International Day of Forests 2016: Forests and Water.

Themed: Forests and Water: Sustain Livelihoods, this year’s International Day of Forests, celebrated at Chemususu dam on the 21st of March 2016 in Baringo county, was aimed at raising  awareness on the important role played by  forests in the  supply of the planet’s  freshwater and sustenance of livelihoods.

The event was presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment Prof Judi Wakhungu. In attendance was Baringo County Governor Hon Benjamin Cheboi, Kenya Forest Service Board Chairman Peter Kinyua, Kenya Forest Service Director Emilio Mugo.

The Cabinet Secretary Prof Judi Wakhungu in the middle and Kenya Forest Service Director Mr Emilio Mugo(4th right) arrive at Chemususu dam for tree planting.

In her speech, the cabinet secretary emphasized on the need of celebrating forests and trees at every opportune moment in our lives as around 1.6 billion people including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures depend on forests for their livelihoods.

The cabinet secretary who led the tree planting session further commented, “One cannot raise awareness about forests and water without making direct reference to the intricate relationship between forests and climate change. This is a clear demonstration of the critical inter-linkages between the forest and our very own survival.”

International Day of Forests celebrated every year on the 21^st of March, is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of forests to people. Forests cover 31% of the global land area and 1.6 billion people depend on them for their livelihoods, medicine, fuel and food.

Planting Spathodea campanulata at Chemususu dam.

Set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, The International Day of Forests allows Member States to carry out celebrations on  the Importance of forests  globally. This can be done through tree planting, community level events and national celebrations including art, photo and film as well as media outreach. It also provides a platform for communicating the vital role played by forests in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security.