<h5>What do we know about this holiday?</h5><p>Kenya's government announced a public holiday on 13th November 2023. This holiday was declared to plant trees as part of their plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. The holiday was also created to encourage citizens to plant trees as part of a plan to fight climate change.</p><p>Kenya is well-known for its stunning wildlife and forests. However, large areas of the country’s forests have been cut, either for wood or to clear land for farming. Currently, trees cover only 7% of Kenya. The country’s president, William Ruto, thinks that planting 15 billion trees by 2032 will help in covering 30% of Kenya’s land with trees.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/kenya-s-tree-planting-holiday%2FKenya%202.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=739eb8fe-f950-4981-9975-150aa5db8139"><figcaption>Officials from National Youth Service planting trees. Photo by NYS Kenya.</figcaption></figure><h5>What happened on that day?</h5><p>Kenyans were asked to plant seedlings in designated public spaces. The seedlings were provided for free by the government through public nurseries. The public was also asked to purchase at least two seedlings (other than those given for free) to plant on their own property. The ministers, president, and other officials also joined the initiative.</p><p>Across the country, over 150 million seedlings were planted. The government also has plans to plant several hundred million additional trees before the short rainy season ends in December. An app was also launched to track the tree-planting efforts in Kenya.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/kenya-s-tree-planting-holiday%2FKenya%203.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=96633705-171b-4d4a-85b3-7c09d3ae8642"><figcaption>Kenyan bank employees planting trees. Photo by Central Bank of Kenya.</figcaption></figure><h5>What app was launched to track tree-planting efforts?</h5><p>The government developed an app named Jaza Miti. It means "fill with trees" in Swahili. People can use the app to collect seedlings, locate suitable planting locations, and report their activities. Kenyan people used the app during the tree-planting day. The app will help the country’s government keep track of the reforestation efforts.</p><p>The app also helps users in finding out which tree species are most suited for their area. The app's data will be checked every four months. Exceptional tree planters will get medals and certificates for their environmental actions. Many citizens were happy about this holiday and hoped it would be held yearly.</p><p>While the government's tree-planting campaign has been praised, Kenya’s president was criticised earlier for lifting an old ban on cutting trees for economic purposes.</p><p>What do you think about Kenya’s tree-planting holiday? Tell us in the comments.</p>

The holiday was given on 13th November 2023.

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