15 March 2021 – Nairobi (Kenya): ‘Kenya united with other African countries and committed to restore 1.5 million hectares in the next 30 years under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100)’, stated Mr. Keriako Tobiko, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Kenya when he officially visited the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Ngong. His Ministry will work together with ICPAC to identify priority landscapes: reforestation is key to mitigating climate change. Mr Tobiko said “We need to make tree planting part of our culture and Kenya aims to plant 2 billion trees by 2022. Beyond that we need to grow and protect them”. The Cabinet Secretary led the ICPAC staff in planting approximately 100 seedlings of indigenous trees at the IGAD Climate Centre in Ngong.
Dr Guleid Artan the Director of the IGAD Climate Centre and Mr Keriako Tobiko the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Kenya, planting an indigenous tree seedling at the Climate Centre in Ngong.
Climate Change is greatly affecting African countries. Our region is faced by an increased amount of extreme climate events, such as cyclones, floods, droughts, and impacts like pests and water borne diseases. Moreover, Africa is warming faster than the world average. Many cities of the region have warmed by more than 2℃ degrees since pre-industrial times.
The Cabinet Secretary further familiarized himself with the work of ICPAC and stated they would proceed to formalize and deepen their working relationship. Mr Tobiko was accompanied by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) Director Ms Stella Aura and her team.
ICPAC staff participating in planting approximately 100 indigenous tree seedlings at the IGAD Climate Centre in Ngong
