UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROF. GEORGE A.O. MAGOHA, DURING THE COLLEGE OF

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1 UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROF. GEORGE A.O. MAGOHA, DURING THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE TREE PLANTING CEREMONY AT THE KANYARIRI FARM, ON 28 TH APRIL, 2OO6

2 2 The Director, NEMA Principal, CAVS Dean, Faculty of Agriculture Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science Chairmen of Departments College Administrators Members of Staff Students Ladies and Gentlemen

3 3 I am very pleased to be with you here today to participate in this important activity of tree planting. We are all aware that trees are an important resource in our natural ecosystem with many benefits. The list of benefits is long to just point out a few, they:. Represent a vast reservoir of genetic resources and bio-diversity,. Provide important habitats for all wildlife, but in particular for threatened and endangered forest species and

4 4. Guarantee supplies of non-wood products such as pharmaceuticals which have enormous export potential. The above benefits are by no means exhaustive, but they do the role that trees and woody vegetation play in our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, the statistics on forest cover for Kenya point a bleak future. The destruction of forests and other woodlands is on a steady increase and at the moment, our forest cover stands at less than 5% against the recommended 10% of the land mass. Today, Kenyan forests are being threatened by rapidly increasing human

5 5 population which has led to increased human activities and encroachment of forestland. This has resulted in rapid environmental degradation hence reducing our existing natural resource base to meet current and future societal needs. For instance, forest areas guarantee Kenya s essential water supplies, and are vital in regulating rainfall and stream flow, which on the other hand are important for agricultural production and power generation. However, the destruction of forests, coupled with excessive settlement and other human activities all lead to one result; uncontrolled severe soil erosion, high sediment load and subsequent siltation of hydroelectric dams and, decreased river flow.

6 6 Deforestation also has a devastating effect on water catchments. This by all means is a great loss to the nation as the soil lost is no longer of any meaningful value for agricultural production. This country recently witnessed landslides that unfortunately led to loss of human life and property. The landslides were largely as result of deforestation of steep slopes. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a well-acknowledged fact that this country is experiencing rapid disappearance forest cover. And if this trend is not reversed, we are bound to witness a reduction in food production and our environment will be less habitable because maintenance and improvement of forests and other vegetation types

7 7 ensure a favourable ecosystem that supports and sustains life. I recognize efforts being put in place to protect our environment. At the global level, emphasis is being placed on development projects that are supportive of global and regional environmental Convention on climate change, the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, and the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer. At the national level, the Government encourages extensive reforestation through the establishment of a

8 8 National Tree Planting Day each year among other efforts. In addition, the Government recognises that economic recovery needs to be sustainable if the objectives of poverty reduction and employment creation are to be achieved, as outlined in the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation Report for which recognizes the need to achieve broad macro and sectoral objectives without compromising the health of the environment. On our part, the University of Nairobi continues to take great interest in our environment through awareness creation, extension services and training and, by involving the University community in exercises of this

9 9 nature. The Faculty of Agriculture in particular has established tree nurseries at Ngong Field Station and has provided extension services that encourage the establishment of trees and woody species botanical gardens by self-help groups in the dry land areas of Kenya. Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen, today s occasion should not be seen as the end of such an important activity, but rather as an annual event and way of reminding us to be more conscious of the need to protect our environment.

10 10 With these few remarks, it is my pleasure to invite our chief guest Dr. Avigon Mwinzi, the acting Director, NEMA to give a keynote address on this occasion. Welcome Sir. THANK YOU