Absa Bank has commissioned a KES 2 million tree planting initiative as part of the National Tree Planting Day. The initiative will see over 30,000 tree seedlings planted in forests within Kiambu and Makueni counties during the short rains season.
These efforts which are designed to restore fragile ecosystems across the country, are being implemented through unique collaborations with like-minded stakeholders.
In support of the national government’s strategy on wetlands restoration, Absa provided 20,000 bamboo tree seedlings for tree growing exercise in Kiu Wetland through the State Department of Forestry. In addition, through an existing partnership with Safaricom, Absa furnished 10,000 seedlings to further restore the Kinale forest.
Speaking during the tree planting drive at Kinale Forest in Kiambu County, Absa Bank Kenya PLC’s Chief Finance Officer, Yusuf Omari said that the initiative aligns with the bank’s sustainability agenda and complements the ongoing government’s 15 billion tree planting agenda.
“As an active force for good, we are passionate about environmental conservation and how it contributes to the sustainability of our communities’ well-being through the simple act of planting and nurturing trees. This resonates with our sustainability commitment number 3 which is to increase biodiversity and encourage environmental responsibility through planting and growing 10 million trees by 2025. This year, we are targeting to plant over 1 million trees countrywide. We believe our efforts will scale the government’s efforts towards achieving 30 per cent forest cover by 2032.”
Over the past two years, the Bank has been planting trees in the southern part of Aberdare Forest and the Mau Complex in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service, local Community Forest Associations and implementing partners such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). The bank is also on course to rehabilitate a section of the degraded 100-hectare Sorget Forest in Kericho County.