Saving Kenya’s Forests

Peace at last but counting the losses

Category: Conservation, Forest loss | Date: Mar 03 2008 | By: admin

Like everybody in Kenya we are sighing with relief; peace at last.

Sadly, the violence led to great losses in forests. The impact on forests has demonstrated how urgently forest issues need to be addressed. Forests have been invaded by illegal loggers, been torched, in some cases settled and cleared for cultivation, forests infrastructure in some areas has been completely vandalized and or/destroyed. Kenya Forest Service staff comprising foresters and forest guards were displaced from their work stations while others were threatened to stay away. This left the forests open to abuse and it has led to destruction of forests . KFS has lost millions of Shillings as a result of illegal logging.

However, KFS did a commendable job in responding to the crisis sending out rangers to priority areas and sounding out donors to fund restoration efforts. Currently a number of Civil Society organizations including KFWG are working with KFS and some donors to see how best urgent needs can be addressed.

The Forestry sector – in particular the newly created Kenya Forest Service - urgently needs funding for its operation and the political will to support it to serve its mandate. But, ultimately, as Kenyans, we must make sure we show respect and protect forests as we are so utterly dependent on them. We here at KFWG believe its our duty as all Kenyans.

6 Responses to “Peace at last but counting the losses”

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 03 Mar 2008

Thank you for your commitment and dedication, for truly when we protect the forests everywhere, we protect everyone and everything.

Paula, on 03 Mar 2008

Dear Liz and Michael, this information simply MUST come out in the mainstream media. can we help you get a press release out on the impact of the trouble on our fragile forests?

Dipesh Pabari, on 03 Mar 2008

We are just beginnning to understand the scale of losses in this country due to the elections:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802130077.html

F. J. Pechir, on 03 Mar 2008

Thank you for your comments and information, the protection to this forest are urgently needed. I will talk today with my friend Ken Mwathe from Birdlife Kenya, maybe we can do something with the Kenya Forest Service to help in this issue… I don´t know in this momment but I promise that I will try!

kenyaforests, on 04 Mar 2008

Thanks all. Paula, the Nation has done a pretty decent job of getting this out - they have had a number of stories. However, the donor/cso/govt initiative’s mentioned above first step is to undertake a rapid assessment to quantify the loss. we will then share that. Pechir, Ken Mwathe is a friend of the KFWG and we hope to work together on anything you might initiate. Thanks again.

F. J. Pechir, on 04 Mar 2008

I´m just commented about this problem with Ken, I hope that we will have a proposal on this problem this same week.

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