World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International Director General, Dr. Kirsten Schuijt, has called for a greater inclusion of communities in conservation while also lauding the commitment and strong leadership of the Kenyan government on climate action.

Speaking on Monday, February 13 in Nairobi when Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Soipan Tuya, paid her a courtesy call, at the WWF-Kenya office in Nairobi, Dr. Kirsten thanked the National Government for its continued support and collaboration in championing environmental issues. 

“The challenge is so immense. We can’t do this alone as WWF and we find a great partner in the Kenyan government. When it comes to the environment there are so many challenges. We open our doors to collaborate with the government and local communities,” said the new WWF Director General.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Tuya urged the conservation organization and other stakeholders to support the national government’s 15 Billion trees growing plan.

“On the ecosystem restoration program, we set a very ambitious target where we want to push the envelope beyond the 12.3% tree cover that we currently have in the country to aim for 30% in the next 10 years, that is by 2032,” said CS Tuya.

The CS pointed out that the government has mapped out the entire country and knows how much land is available, adding that the biggest opportunity lies in the arid and semi arid lands because of the spaces available.

"We also want to model this around enterprise models. We plan to bring on board a green army of young people to support the process where they can earn a living as well as contribute to their share of ecosystem restoration. We’re rallying our farmers around the initiative through agroforestry, where you are planting trees contributing to the tree cover but also getting a livelihood out of it,” said the CS.

Kirsten was in Kenya on her maiden tour as the new WWF boss, having taken over from Dr. Marco Lambertini who served for nine years since his appointment in 2014.

 During her visit on Monday, Kirsten met with the WWF-Kenya National Office staff led by the Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Awer, and the WWF-Africa Regional team as well as WWF Practice Leads.

 She is set to visit the WWF Tanzania office on Tuesday.