Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko/FILE
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has strongly dismissed as “misleading” and nonfactual some media reports depicting Mau forest complex as experiencing a major spell of deforestation.
In a statement, the agency stated that the images said to be from the satellite are not the real situation on the ground and not corroborated by any evidence on the ground as claimed in the reports.
According to the KFS, the areas colored purple in satellite images are outside the forest and are within the areas bordering Mariashoni, Likia, Nesuit, Sururu, Olupusimoru, Tinet, Saino and Keringet among others.
While acknowledging that the resource had for many years back suffered greatly from excision, deforestation, encroachment and overgrazing, it has noted that key interventions have led to its restoration.
The enactment of the Forest Act 2007 and later the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, has seen illegal activities significantly reduced by 90 per cent, it said.
“Due to the ongoing measures, natural regeneration of the forest and especially that of bamboo species is clearly evident across the Mau Forest,” the statement reads in part.
The ongoing Institutional reforms in KFS, it added, have so far influenced positive trends in terms of sustainable forest management.
Other strategies it has outlined are the gazettement of the Forest Policy 2024, FCMA 2016, Climate Change Act and regulations and standards.
As part of the measures in place to attain at least 30 percent forest cover, the agency said the government commence reclamation of encroached land through Operation Imarisha Misitu which has been happening since 2023.
“During the operation Imarisha msitu from December 2023 to April 2024 all unauthorised activities in the forest were suspended including grazing and this yielded very positive result,” it states.
Other interventions within the service includes employment of 3,300 new rangers and foresters and enhanced training and equipping of personnel.
