The media plays a critical role in amplifying issues touching on environmental conservation and climate change.
Media Council of Kenya CEO Mr David Omwoyo says media remains a key player in educating and informing the public on environmental challenges and interventions.
"The media can fulfil this role through provision of detailed analysis of research data on forestry, impact, gaps, challenges and opportunities", he said during a media sensitisation convened by Kenya Forestry Service (KFS) on the plantation establishment and livelihood improvements scheme (PELIS), popularly known as shamba system.
He affirmed the need for strategic media campaigns and engagement in telling the forestry, science, conservation and data related stories to create more awareness and to reach out to the society and communities.
He urged the media to focus on environmental conservation and climate change agenda by reporting on the interventions being undertaken by various institutions for public knowledge and information.
Mr Omwoyo affirmed the Council's commitment to contribute towards this important agenda, terming it a matter of public good.
He said that the Media Council of Kenya and KFS have signed a working pact that will see, among others, the two institutions build the capacity of environmental and science journalists to improve reportage on forestry issues.
Under the partnership with KFS, the Council has adopted a forest in Ndoinet where it is planting 5,000 trees as its contribution to the government efforts to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
Acting Chief Conservator of Forests Mr Alex Lemarkoko underscored efforts to improve forest cover, saying that over the last 20 years the Kenya’s forest sector has experienced a series of government-led reforms through enactment of the Forest Act 2005 (now repealed by the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016) and promulgation of the Constitution in 2010.
He urged the media to uphold professionalism when reporting.