THOUSANDS OF NEW TREES TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT AT KENYAN AIRPORTS
(Posted 20th May 2016)
Staff of the Kenya Airport Authority yesterday planted over 200 tree seedlings at a select site of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi together with other organizations working at the airport. The activity was co-underwritten by the Vision 2030 Secretariat.
The tree planting at JKIA follows similar tree planting measures undertaken in the past at, among others, Eldoret International Airport where KAA has over a period of time planted over 6.000 eucalyptus trees.
The choice of trees is not entirely free of dispute as several conservationists pointed out to this correspondent: ‘Eucalyptus is not an indigenous tree species. It grows fast but is also absorbs a lot of water. As a forestry expert I would have preferred to see KAA and others participating in tree planting to have used indigenous species, preferable hard wood species. However, I cannot fault KAA for the principle of tree planting which deserves broad support from all sections of Kenya’s corporate sector and civil society‘ wrote in one but preferred not to be named.
It was also learned overnight that KAA will embark on a similar tree planting campaign at the Kitale airstrip and the new Isiolo airport which is due to become operational before the middle of the year.
Again, here too have forestry experts suggested that the choice of trees to be planted be considered carefully and mainly indigenous trees, found in the particular area, be used.
Meanwhile have literally hundreds of readers requested to once again be shown a graphic about the changed arrival locations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, now that the ‘old‘ location in the main parking garage has been closed.
All passengers of Kenya Airways and of the airline’s SkyTeam partners are now arriving in Terminal 1A, where a separate arrival section has been installed, completing the work on this new terminal which is now the home of KQ.
Passengers of all other airlines however will use the newly opened Terminal 1E arrival section, where they will be processed by immigration before collecting their baggage and passing through customs.
Passengers departing from JKIA as well as friends and relatives picking up travelers from JKIA are advised to acquaint themselves with the new terminal order before reaching the airport to avoid confusion where they need to check in or where they will arrive and exit the terminal from.
Both travel agents and the respective airlines will provide guidance and details to their clients to avoid being dropped off at the wrong terminal and potentially miss a flight.
