Wangari Maathai has awoken new zeal among Kenyans keen on keeping her
dream alive with fresh impetus in the past week.
Forest edge communities in Nyandarua and Laikipia counties, which
serve as water sources for millions of people residing in water
deficit areas entered into separate pacts with Kenya Forest Service to
safeguard Aberdare and Laikipia Ecosystemss.
KFS’s deputy direct in charge of Forest Conservation Mr Esau Omolo
presided over the signing ceremonies at Kinangop, Ndaragwa and at
Nyahururu townships where the knife edge commitment on forest
rehabilitation were signed.
And before the ink had dried, KFS launched the first onslaught on
forest destruction when it gave 1,000 families living at Kirima and
Muruai scheme a signal that there days were numbered since KFS now had
a fuilly equipped and armed wing.
“The aim of KFS is to use the power bestowed upon it by the
constitution to increase Kenya’s forest cover to over 10per cent while
ensuring the 6.5per cent forest cover is not destroyed. For
you(residents) is to be your brother’s keeper by ensuring government
officers do not destroy the forest,” he said.
The pacts seek to set a mutual stage for KFS and residents to benefit
from continued forest conservation where residents can enjoy increased
water, honey, firewood, tourism revenue generation as well as
establishment of fish ponds along rivers and dams without condoning
forest destruction.
The holistic approach to forest management saw four community forest
associations mandated to utilize Ndaragwa, Rumuruti, Shamanek, Ol
Bolosat, Aberdare and lariak forests for their own economic benefit.
“But any CFA that condones activities that destroy forests such as
logging, charcoal burning and illegal crop cultivation will have their
pacts cancelled and KFS will bar further entry of forests,” said Mr
John Munyiri deputy director in charge of Legal affairs at KFS.
Muruai and Kirima schemes, noted KFS’ Aberdare Forest Zonal Manager Mr
Benjamin Kinyili, which are located on the upper catchment area for
Central Province’s only lake Ol Bolosat continued to cause harm to
millions of people downstream.
“Their agricultural activities continue to cause silting of the lake
which is a water reservoir and as the agency mandated by law to
protect our water catchment areas, we have moved around and erected
beacons in the affected areas and we shall soon move in,”he said.
Mr Omollo confirmed the assertion saying the settlers would be evicted
the Mau way, where evictions take place as the governments looks for
alternative land for them.
“It is even dangerous for you to occupy such an area since water
levels keep rising and land slides are a normal occurrence. Once the
regeneration of natural forest cover reaches its peak within the
Aberdare Forest Ecosystem covering 2,000 square kilometers, water will
force you out,” he added.
Muruai and Kirima schemes have of late witnessed land slides following
heavy rains that precipitate floods across cultivate lands along
former waterways.
But the plans have been met with severe opposition from local leaders
who aver that the government should see alternative ways to address
the problem by seeking an all-inclusive mechanism where residents
could be asked to plant trees on ‘their’ farms without being necessary
being evicted.
Lake Ol Bolosat provides water to millions of Kenyans in Nyandarua,
Laikipia, Samburu, Marsabit and Garrissa counties before it crosses
over to Somalia. Along its way it provides millions of gallons ofm
water to multi-million irrigation enterprises and world famous game
sanctuaries among them Buffalo Springs, Samburu and Shaba.
The CFA agreements also seek to start tourism projects within the
forests with nature trails, hippo and elephant viewpoints erected at
strategic areas. KFS has since financed construction of an jumbo
electric fence along Rumuruti forest thereby reducing human-wildlife
conflict.
The partnership has been welcomed by conservation lobby groups world
wide that continue to provide funds for various projects such as
establishment of beekeeping ventures, indigenous tree seeds and
seedling conllection enterprises, fish farming as well as contruction
of bandas.
Rumuruti CFA chairman John Kamau summed up the gains well when he
noted that problematic jumbos translocated to Meru National Reserve
had seen Meru residents earn millions of shillings from tourism
ventures vowing never to allow translocation again.
“This CFA pact, empowering of community members via exchange visits
and seminars has enabled us to see these elephants as our greatest
asset and not a threat. Our commitment to the world is to see that
conservation brings us money,” he said.
The CFA pacts were signed against a backdrop of the need to conserve
forests as water catchment areas and an efficient air cleaner that
could earn the two counties billions of shillings in carbon credits.
With residents joining hands with KFS to conserve forests, an improved
forest-food project has taken off in various areas where residents
grow food and plant tree seedlings at the same time.
After three years the farmers, at Ol Bolosat, Geta and Shamanek
forests will be allocated land elsewhere leaving behind the young tree
seedlings to grow. The project has been hailed as the best way to
enable residents ‘own’ the forests.
“The forests belong to the people not the government and any
destruction will adversely affect our lives negatively.Time to discard
the ‘government property’ attitude is gone and CFAs’ must educate its
members to shun such backward attitudes,” said Mr Omolo.
The CFA members and KFS staff vowed to keep Professor Maathai’s dream
alive by ensuring indigenous trees are planted in forests as well as
farms annually with tree nurseries being established as commercial
enterprises.
“We shall help you(CFA) source for funds tom purchase the tree
seedlings for onward planting in areas identified by you within
forests. River banks must never be cleared of any vegetation as this
encourages erosion,” added Mr Omolo.
Increase flow of water from Nyandarua to Laikipia and eventually to
Samburu has seen conflict among pastoralists subside with hundreds of
livestock having adequate pastures along swampy section along the
Ewaso Nyiro river.
ENDS
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