The Kenya Forest Services (KFS) has 122 million tree seedlings for planting around the country this season and the KFS board chairman Professor Richard Musangi appealed to Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing rains to plant more trees not just for environmental conservation but also for wealth creation and livelihood support.

"It has been confirmed through a recent study that forests contribute 3.6 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are key to the continued good performance of other key sectors of the economy particularly those in the primary production. This underscores the need to protect, sustainably manage and to invest in this key sector," said Prof. Musangi during the launch of Eastern rainfall regime tree planting season in Mwatate constituency.

Musangi said trees play a vital role in the country's economy and that the KFS had made a steady progress in increasing the tree cover around the country which he said now stands at 6.99 per cent.