Removal of exotic trees from Karura Forest within law – Duale

Environment CS Aden Duale has dismissed claims of destruction of exotic trees at the Karura Forest during the ongoing removal of the trees from the protected ecosystem

Duale said care has been taken to ensure minimal disturbance to the ecosystem as Kenya Forest Service (KFS) harvests mature trees.

"Kenya Forest Service would like to assure the public and visitors of Karura Forest that what is going on is a normal plantation management activity that involves harvesting of mature exotic plantation species as per the Kanura Forest Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP) which is a legal document developed in collaboration between the KFS and the Community Forest Association (CFA) in this case being Friends of Karura Forest,” Duale said in a statement on Thursday.

He said that according to the PFMP, Karura Forest being an urban recreational forest would be reverted back to a purely indigenous forest through gradual removal of exotic plantation tree species that occupy some parts of the forest.

Indigenous species are native to a region and occur naturally without human intervention, while exotic species are introduced from other areas and may be harmful to the local ecosystem.

"This programme in fact begun over six years ago but following the 2018 moratorium on logging in public forests, the exercise was stopped,” Duale said.

"However following the lifting of the ban on harvesting of mature plantations, KFS has continued with the programme that will eventually see the removal of the exotic species comprising of eucalyptus and cypress in specific areas,” he explained.

The process has followed due diligence with little disturbance to the forest ecosystem and the public, Duale said.

He said the procedure includes inventory of the selected plantations as per the Karura PFMP, bidding and awarding of tenders.

The CS said clear felling and removal of plantation material from the forest are also being done in accordance with the law.

He added that the process of replanting and restoring the harvested sites will include clean up and removal of invasive species, preparation for replanting, and actual planting of indigenous trees, shrubs and climbers suitable for the ecological zone and aftercare and maintenance.

Duale said monitoring and evaluation to ensure maximum survival rate of the newly planted trees will also be observed.