As Kenyans mark Mazingira Day, the Kenya Forest Service has announced a rewards scheme that seeks to recognise individuals, organizations, communities, and institutions across Africa who plant the most trees.
The initiative, which will see winners honoured at the African Champion of Trees (ACT) awards, has a grand prize of Ksh5 million, where the winner can choose to fund a tree planting initiative of their choice.
The awards, done in partnership with a local company, have eight categories that will yield 34 winners with one champion of trees in Kenya.
Speaking in an interview with TV47 on Thursday, KFS Senior Deputy Conservator of Forests Clement Ng'oriareng' noted that the initiative was done to ensure the government meets its target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, inviting interested Kenyans to make their submissions.
“We are going to reward anyone who has done exemplary work in planting trees from wherever they are, and we have various categories,” Ng’oriareng’ said.
The award categories include: Individual, Group and Community, Corporate, NGO, Government Ministry, State Corporation and County Government, Special, Lifetime Achievement, and ACT Special Catalyst.
The awards will recognise tree planting efforts made from January 1 and December 31, 2024. Interested Kenyans, communities, companies, and groups have until October 31 to submit their entries via the awards scheme website.
In the individual awards categories, listed sub-categories include Most Trees Grown by an Individual Award, Innovative Tree Growing Method Award, Young Tree Champion Award, and Community Tree Champion Award.
Sub-categories in the Group and Community Award are Most Trees Grown Award, Best School Tree Growing Program Award, Best Community Tree Growing Award, Most Supportive Community Award, and the Best Community Forest Association Award.
For the Corporates, sub-categories are the Most Trees Grown by a Corporation Award, the Best Corporate Sustainability Initiative Award, and the Most Innovative Tree Growing Program Award. NGO Awards include the Most Trees Grown Award, the Support to Tree Growing Initiatives Award, and the Best NGO Sustainability Initiative Award.
For the government institutions, awards available include Best State Corporation Tree Growing Initiative Award, Best Government Entity Tree Growing Initiative Award, Most Trees Planted by a County Award, and Most Supportive County Government Award.
Special awards include Forester of the Year Award, Ranger of the Year Award, Journalist Award, Media House Award, and Innovation Award. Lifetime Achievement awards will honour NGOs, Corporations, Individuals, and will also have a posthumous recognition.
ACT Catalyst awards will honour the top NGO and Individual financial contributors as well as the top NGO and Individual contributors in kind.
The award ceremony will take place on Friday, October 24.
