Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1516300,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1516300/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Let me first say the reason these amendments are so crucial and timely is because a time has come for counties to be intentional in how they promote afforestation and reforestation. I say this because we have seen the number of activities that the counties are engaging in, and a lot of questions should arise in the audit of the activities of the counties and the impact of the activities or how resources are being allocated to various functions in the county and the usefulness of the resources, the utility of these resources by the counties. It is unfortunate that even when we have had a policy of afforestation, the countries have not taken up this challenge robustly to secure our future and the future of our generation, especially in light of climate change, which has posed a great danger to the existence of our communities, the existence of our livelihoods, and even our very existence as human beings. If you visit other jurisdictions, you will find that Governments and communities have become very sensitive to how the environment is being managed and conserved. Indeed, many incentives are offered in other jurisdictions for proper forest conservation and management and conservation of natural environments, including lakes and seas. Unfortunately, we have not reached a level of sensitivity within our governance system, where it becomes a lifestyle, as we have seen in places like Norway. If you have a chance to visit Norway or Sweden, you will be amazed by the number of forests in that area. You will actually not know you have arrived at their capital city because the forest cover is high. However, we have had unfortunate incidents where pollution from other places has, through climate change, affected how our forests have been conserved and how our environment has taken up the climate change. It is time that these amendments are introduced and become law so that we move from policy to law and bind both levels of Government, both at the national and county levels, to ensure that it has become our responsibility to implement management plans to ensure all forests, including public forests, are properly conserved and managed. Unfortunately, this has remained a call from the national Government, which is a lone call and only happens if a certain date is stated as National Tree Planting Day. However, this legislation must now make it a grassroots lifestyle so that every corner of this nation can enjoy better forest cover. Eventually, you will find that even food security will be more assured. Looking at the expanded functions of the service, I congratulate the hon. Senator because it has captured even a sort of a nodded system for the forest cover after implementation of this legislation. I have also noted that part of the purpose of this legislation is to go beyond governments and reach out to corporates, private sector, private entities, and community- based organizations to be part of this exercise of afforestation and reafforestation. It should not be that the President himself is calling for 10 billion tree cover. His lone voice will not be able to help the whole nation. It has to be a call that must go down to even families; that every family, whatever land they have must look and determine how many trees they can plant within their homestead. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when we are talking about the trees, it is not just the normal indigenous ones but even the fruit trees which become useful to the families and The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}