Higher learning institutions challenged to adopt blocks of public forests

Institutions of higher learning have been challenged to adopt blocks of public forests, in order to hasten the country’s dream of attaining 10% Forest cover.

This has been said by the assistant chief conservator at the Kenya forest service James Mwangombe , who has said that the forest department is discouraging kenyans from planting many trees and failing to take care of them.

Mwangombe made the remarks during an event the Earth day at Mount Kenya University , Thika . said he Mount Kenya University .During the event , which saw 3000 indigenous trees planted at the Institutions botanic garden , MKU board chairman Prof Simon Gicharu announced that the University will open up its 20-acre botanic garden for research advancement and leisure.

He said that this is aimed at maximising the use of the garden situated in Thika for botanical studies and recreation for both students and the larger community around.

“The garden is currently used for learning but it can still offer more. The institution deemed it fit to expand its usage to accommodate the community as this will open up research opportunities,” said Gicharu.

The botanic garden sits in a 100-acre piece of land valued at KSh 4 billion owned by the university.
Gicharu said that the garden will also have a space for recreation where community elders can have goat eating meetings while they arbitrate community issues.

“The leisure centre will accommodate diverse groups because a university which is a universal institution has a key role in promoting and sustaining positive diversity, besides academics,” Gicharu observed.