Environmentalist

  Zebras grazing on grass in a National Park. PHOTO: David P. Kioko Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as the key sector stakeholders in conservation, were challenged to rethink conservation approaches. Preservation of Kenya’s flora and fauna resources needs innovation of new models. This was a challenge by the President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 16, 2021 during celebrations to mark the 75 th Anniversary of Nairobi National Park. The sector stakeholders must ensure factors including climate change and increase in human population which consequently leads to change of socioeconomic desires are balanced with the new approaches as matters of conservation are concerned.   “We need to really think imaginatively how we will do it and how we will ensure that future generations are able to live side by side with nature and with our wildlife as we have done,” said the Head of State. The President also emphasized the need for a robust sustai...

Kenya Forest Service Officer doing some pricking at a tree nursery. Photo credit: Mercy Musuya   A tree of more than a hundred of years, for example, has had massive impact in the environment before a human defines its value. That tree absorbed carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – from the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration is a major part played in life’s climate system. In return, the tree released oxygen as a by-product. The by-product is massively dependent upon by all animals including us for survival as well as in the photosynthesis process. The leaves of the tree transformed the energy of photons it absorbed into sugar molecules thus the stored energy is liberated in metabolism reactions under control. The tree’s roots clung to soil under harsh weather and climatic conditions like heavy rainfall, inhibiting erosion. Vast water quantities siphoned end up in the canopy. This is where it is therefore released through transpiration – ameliorating weather. The tree offered a...

A lady working in a tree nursery. Photo credit: Mercy Musuya Human beings especially the loggers believe that the value of a tree is only determined by the revenue it generates in our economy. They ignore to consider what that specific tree does before entering the economy. The forest floor is usually covered by living organisms thus you will be able to come across lichens or mosses coating rocks. The decaying woods, fallen logs as well as snags are dependent upon by countless organisms for nutrition and protection. With this complexity and a link of this kind that is beyond our comprehension since all are held together, by not only the air but also water and sunlight suffusing them, makes this community recognized as a forest. “Second-growth forest” is a term used majorly by foresters. They consider it a forest but it is usually a tree plantation. This is like a “managed forest” while others call it “fibre farm” and it is an important practice in our environment, however, for ...

A young lady receiving COVID-19 vaccine jab. Photo credit: Christine "Tina" Ouma. Summary ·  Threats and intimidation only create the fear of the unknown and makes one to question the motives if it’s rather of good will. ·  Proper communication drives out the fear and the misinformation amongst those hesitant for the jab. We are through to the last month of the year, December. A month full of activities all geared towards a happy end year thus festivities. The month that will test your dependency to government services yet hesitant to listen to the government, taking a vaccine jab. Yes, it is the month that all the government offices will be going through your COVID-19 vaccination certificate in order to be served. It does not matter your “burning issue” – what matters is the certificate and safety of government officials. That’s the ticket for service. Ticket for service at the local airline, even SGR trains will have to check it before getting you to your destination and it...