The initiative dubbed Tsavo Climate Challenge seeks to grow and nurture 40 million trees in 12 counties in a span of three years.
Work in Kajiado, Machakos, Kitui, Tana River, Garissa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu, begins in 2018.
“The ecological biodiversity, cultural and historical heritage of these counties which fall under the wider Tsavo Ecosystem Dispersal Area (TEDA), are under threat from adverse effects of unsustainable land use, environmental degradation, inappropriate management of natural resources and the effects of climate change,” said Tsavo Heritage Foundation Founder Member Mrs Wanjala Sio, at the launch of the Tsavo Climate Challenge in Nairobi.
“Tsavo is a shadow of its former self.
She noted that water scarcity was a more imminent threat to both human and wildlife and “work must be urgently done to get water systems rehabilitated and conserved for the sustenance of this critical ecosystem.” The world’s renowned ecologist John D. Liu who launched the initiative said there was hope of reclaiming the Tsavo ecosystem but relevant bodies need to act faster, adding that the process should not be left to conservationist alone.
“Ecosystem restoration camps are the best possibility because they are low cost, high impact and it allows you to engage many people in mitigation and adaptation restoring hydrological cycles, biodiversity, and growing soil.
Through these activities, these camps will be able to provide meaningful engagement to thousands of unemployed youths,” Liu said.
“We want to work with the local communities and institutions because we want the locals to own the initiate as we move from just planting trees to growing and nurturing them, which takes longer, and the communities are in a better position to tend to the trees until they are mature enough to survive on their own,” she said.
The Foundation has also lined up some activities to support the Climate Challenge initiative including a marathon dubbed Tsavo Run which will allow for participation by individuals and corporate organizations; a special conference on climate change; and a cultural and award ceremony event dubbed The Beats of Tsavo to celebrate Tsavo while awarding and recognize leaders in its conservation and rehabilitation.
“This is a huge task which requires a lot of resource- monetary and otherwise.