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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Taita Taveta - Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has revealed plans to have tourists plant a tree upon visiting the country.
During a tree planting exercise in Taita Taveta on Friday, April 10, Mutua stated that each tourist would have to plant a tree.
The CS noted that the initiative would help the national government attain its target of 15 billion trees.
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Dubbed "One Tree per Tourist", Mutua said the initiative had the blessings of the President and the Cabinet, where it has been discussed on how to achieve a green economy.
The initiative would be rolled out in collaboration with hotels and tourism agents to mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve the nation's biodiversity.
"In order to improve our standard of living in Kenya, we need to plant fifteen billion trees. As the council of ministers, we sat down and agreed to initiate this tree-planting program," Mutua stated.
Mutua explained that even tourists exploring urban areas like Nairobi would plant trees in designated sites known as tourism forests.
The CS stated that the ambitious project is another testament to Kenya's commitment to increasing the country's tree cover.
Mutua added that sustainable tourism and environmental conservation are inseparable, arguing that by involving tourists in tree-planting activities, Kenya preserves its natural heritage.
"The "One Tree per Tourist" initiative underscores Kenya's commitment to expanding its tree cover and combating climate change, aiming to mitigate carbon emissions, foster biodiversity, and establish green spaces for future generations," he added
Earlier, Mutua announced the government's plan to install modern toilets and other essential amenities in the Amboseli National Park.
This, he said, would attract more tourists to the reserve.
According to Mutua, successive governments had overlooked the idea of park rest areas, saying they were essential for the well-being of those on expedition missions.
He observed that tourists had difficulty while returning to their hotel rooms to relieve themselves, with some resorting to rushing to the nearby thickets.
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Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua with KWS rangers.
Tourism CS Alfred Mutua launches a plan to make each tourist who visits
Alfred Mutua Says Tourists Will Have to Plant Trees when Visiting Kenya