Kenya’s government created a special public holiday on Monday Nov. 13 for people across the country to plant 100 million trees to help fight climate change.
A woman holds a tree seedling as she gets ready to plant it during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenya’s President William Ruto said that the country has set a goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 and will start by planting 100 million trees this year.
A woman picks tree seedlings to plant them in an urban forest during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenya’s Interior Minister announced the holiday a week earlier on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “The country shall be expected to plant trees as a patriotic contribution to the national efforts to save our country from the devastating effects of climate change.”
Students plant tree seedlings at a school playground during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
The government provided 150 million seedlings for free on Monday to be planted in designated public areas.
A girl who is part of a Taekwondo academy wearing her taekwondo uniform plants a tree seedling in an urban forest during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenyans were encouraged to plant a minimum of two seedlings each, to meet the aim of 100 million trees.
Students wash their hands on a puddle after planting tree seedlings at a school playground during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is a moment for Kenyans to stand in solidarity in the defense of our environment, it’s a ‘hummingbird’ contribution day, all of us pulling together to fight back against climate change crisis,” Kenya’s Environment Minister said.
Members of a Taekwondo academy wearing taekwondo uniforms plant tree seedlings in an urban forest during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
The official counts of seedlings used have not yet been released.
A group of Muslim girls plant tree seedlings in an urban forest during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
The tree planting process was monitored through an app with real-time updates, which also helped users choose appropriate tree species for their location.
A Lego Maria priest observes members of his church as they planting tree seedlings during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenya’s forest cover decreased from 12% to 6% between 1990 and 2010, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Members of the National Youth Service (NYS) plant tree seedlings during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
The government has set aside more than $80 million this year to restore the forest coverage to more than 10%, according to the Guardian.
Isaac Molu, 11, plants a tree seedling during the nationwide tree planting public holiday in Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)
