The establishment of a model tree nursery in Meru Forest Station, Meru County, is set to play a key role in reviving forests across the region.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency, the County Forest Conservator, Wellington Ndaka, noted that with an annual target of growing 37 million trees in the county, the model tree nursery will help accelerate tree-growing activities in the region.
He said Meru County boasts a tree cover of 29.68 per cent and a forest cover of 12 per cent, contributing significantly to environmental conservation and sustainable development, and with the model nursery having 1.2 million tree seedlings per year, the county has the capacity to surpass its target of 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.
Mr Ndaka added that the model nursery was established with the support of Green Zone Phase 2 in partnership with the African Development Bank to address the shortcomings of the normal nurseries, which could not meet the demand of seedlings and the speed of production as well as quality. "Formerly, the normal nursery was producing 35,000 seedlings per year, but the model one is producing 1.2 million seedlings in the same period. "The model nursery has various advantages, including better utilisation of water, good quality of seedlings, less labour usage and raised seedbeds, which enhance elimination of diseases due to their hygiene," said Mr.
