KENYA LOOKS TO PLANT 19 MILLION TREES IN WRC GREENING LEGACY PROJECT
Started in June 2021 by the Ministry of Sports in collaboration with the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the Kenya Motorsports Association (KMSF), the project aims at promoting environmental conservation and increasing forest cover in the country.
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The WRC Safari Rally has been at the forefront of biodiversity conservation, driving the Sports for Climate Action agenda in Kenya based on key conservation actions, one of the most important being the 19 Million Trees Greening Legacy project.
Launched to commemorate the 19 years that Kenya was missing in the World Safari Rally sports, the project has been received with great enthusiasm by the motor sport local communities.
International drivers such as Kalle Rovanpera, Oliver Solberg, Gus Greensmith, Martin Prokop, Diego Dominguez and Rogelio Penate had the opportunity to join the organisers in planting trees at the Rally Service Park during the 2022 WRC Safari Rally.
So far, 7 million trees have been planted and the plan is to reach the target of 19 million trees by 2026.
Speaking during the tree planting ceremony at Ilooro in Kakamega Forest, WRC Safari Rally greening legacy Head Ivy Kaburu noted that community inclusion and empowerment have both been critical to sustainably managing the initiative.
“Stakeholder engagement has been positive; we have seen the communities totally support the initiative. We remain committed to achieving our target of 19 million trees,” said Kaburu.