Environmental stakeholders are targeting to restore 400 hectares of degraded land by empowering 4,000 young people with tree-growing and conservation skills across four counties.
Speaking during the launch of the second phase of the Green Rising Project in Embu, Rainforest Alliance Senior Associate Ivy Okutoyi said the two-year initiative will be implemented in Embu, Kilifi, Machakos and Kajiado counties.
The project will train 400 youth champions who will cascade the skills to 4,000 others, while supporting the growing of over 200,000 tree seedlings.
The programme has also been expanded to Embu East following the success of the first phase in Mbeere North, Mbeere South and Mwea.
Embu County Director of Agriculture Patrick Njeru urged residents to embrace fruit tree farming to boost food security.
Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Githinji Wamahiu said the initiative would create green jobs while supporting the government’s target of planting 15 billion trees.
The project is funded by UNICEF and implemented through partnerships with environmental stakeholders.