KAKAMEGA COUNTY COMMEMORATES FALLEN RANGERS

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Mrs Peninah Mukabane today, Monday, led the residents of Kakamega County in commemorating the World Rangers Day at Kakamega Forest National Reserve Buyangu.

During this year’s event themed, ‘30 by 30,’ which targets effective conservation and management of at least 30 per cent of the planet by 2030, Ms. Mukabane delivered H.E FCPA Governor Fernandes Barasa speech that emphasized on the need to support and create awareness of the critical work that rangers around the globe go through in conserving cultural and natural heritage.

The Governor’s speech underscored the objective of fencing Kakamega Forest is to ensure a well-established ecosystem by regaining the integrity of the Forest’s unique diversity of both flora and fauna to promote eco-tourism thus minimizing human-wildlife conflict as well as human encroachment.

Also highlighted in the speech was the need for community participation in ecotourism activities in the forest which should greatly contribute to its social and economic development .

On her part, the CECM urged residents to plant more trees and to ensure a high survival rate for both indigenous and exotic species as they work towards improving the forest cover, conservational efforts by rangers, noting that erection of the Kakamega Forest fence is one catalytic measure, that the County is engaged in.

Present were Chief Officer for Environment ,Natural Resources and Climate Change Mr Justin Mutobera and the Senior Environmental Conservative Madam Catherine Wambani.