Nation Media Group (NMG) on Monday signed a long-term partnership on tree planting with the Ministry of Environment under NMG’s “Save Our Trees” campaign.

This will boost the government’s campaign to achieve 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 where over 235 million seedlings are set to be planted across the country.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko said that since the launch of a tree planting drive in March, over 22 million seedlings have been planted in various forests in the country and in secure public utilities like schools and hospitals.

“We have planted millions of trees since the launch and the process will continue as long as the rains do not fail us,” said Mr Tobiko during the signing of the agreement on Monday at the Ministry’s headquarters at NHIF Towers, Nairobi.

NMG Acting Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gitagama said that environment is one of the Group’s sustainability pillars.

“We take the issue of environment seriously as you know a newspaper is a product made from wood. We have also participated in other environmental campaigns before,” Mr Gitagama said.

NMG Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi pointed out that the environment is a critical part in achieving President Uhuru Kenyatta’s “Big Four” agenda.  “We control a critical communication asset and we will ensure what we had started is sustained,” said Mr Mshindi.

By COLLINS OMULO