LThis year’s theme for World Environment Day (WED) is “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience.” Celebrated globally on June 5th, WED involves over 150 countries participating in various activities.
Brief History of WED.
World Environment Day was launched in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to coincide with the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and hosted this year by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; WED aims to raise awareness and mobilize stakeholders to protect the environment for future generations. Environmental organizations are encouraged to promote food security, biodiversity, and combat climate change, land degradation and desertification.
Importance of World Environment Day.
World Environment Day plays a vital role in maintaining a sanitary and habitable environment for humans and animals. It highlights critical environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, pollution, and water scarcity, encouraging communities to engage in conservation and sustainable development. The event provides a platform for policymakers, governments, NGOs and environmental experts to address challenges and promote sustainable practices.
How KENAFF Works Towards Environmental Improvement.
The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) is instrumental in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Through initiatives like tree planting events across various counties, KENAFF aims to promote at least 10% of forest cover. Her Sustainable Food Systems (SUSTFARM+) project supports sustainable agricultural practices such as agroecology and organic farming to enhance soil health, conserve water and reduce chemical use. This project also aims to improve food and nutrition security by strengthening the food system from production to consumption, fostering diverse diets and encouraging nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Additionally, it focuses on community participation and farmer empowerment to adopt sustainable practices and achieve self-sufficiency.
KENAFF’s Farm Forestry, Afforestation & Biodiversity Conservation Programme (FFA & BCP), a component of its strategic plan (2022-2026), further promotes biodiversity conservation. This programme is part of pillar 5: Farmer-Driven Climate Action and Resilience Building against emergencies and shocks. KENAFF also disseminates information and raises awareness about environmental conservation through its social media platforms.
Call To Action
As we celebrate World Environment Day, we urge change agents worldwide, especially the youth, to take action in promoting environmental restoration under the slogan “Our Land, Our Future.“We are#GenerationRestoration.