The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in conjunction with other partners is set to rehabilitate degraded natural forests nationwide. KFS Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr Julius Kamau today said about 480,000 hectares of natural forests had been degraded and KFS has come up with a very strategic initiative to restore them. Kamau was speaking today at Gakanga forest in Kieni west sub-county, Nyeri County during the launch of the Kenya Energy and Environment Social Responsibility Project (KEESRP). The project is a joint venture between the Ministry of Energy, KFS and the local Community Forest Association to restore the more than 250 acres of land. He said that through the venture, they had been able to inject Sh 35 million to restore the degraded area with the help of the adjacent communities in a span of four years. “We believe we have to empower the community adjacent to the forest because they need to perceive this forest as their own forest,” Kamau said.
He appreciated that the community has realized that destroying forests is detrimental to themselves and others and are willing to conserve and protect them. “We want to change their lives and the forest ecosystem protection means something to their livelihood and that’s why the Sh 35 million will go to the pockets of these people,” the CCF said. Kamau at the same time encouraged the youths to fully participate in the rehabilitation exercise noting that only the elderly were fully engaging in the restoration exercise. “Youths have somehow not been integrated and we have urged the youth of this area to be integrated in this process,” Kamau said. He further urged that the school fraternity in the area be involved in the exercise noting that their numbers will have a greater impact in the conservation exercise. The Conservator said community scouts will be recruited and trained by the forest rangers to aid KFS in the conservation and protection of forests. He added that KFS wants the community to offer solutions to problems where they exist.
Kamau at the same time
asked the community to understand that destruction of the environment directly affected people living downstream who depend on water flowing from the two major water towers of the Aberdare and Mt Kenya, hosted by Nyeri County. “It is a divine call for all of us, a duty and a patriotic kind of a signature from all communities to know that we must take care of each other. Our behaviour here must be positive to influence the behaviour of others positively,” Kamau emphasized. He directed his officers and the community members to ensure that the project is implemented efficiently, transparently and with accountability and the money must go to the intended purpose.
Kamau urged communities to work together with KFS to restore degraded forests adding that together the country will be able to meet the 10 percent forest cover.