Environment CS Aden Duale and Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko during the unveiling of Forest Status Report 2024 yesterday /HANDOUT
ENVIRONMENT CS Aden Duale has directed the Kenya Forest Service to follow the law while disposing of 5,000 hectares of forest plantations.
Speaking on Tuesday during the unveiling of first-ever forest status report 2024, Duale urged the service to adhere to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
The Act provides procedures for efficient public procurement and for assets disposal by public entities.
“Forests are public assets. They are not individual assets. And once it’s a public asset, it must be sold, it must be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Duale said.
Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi, chief conservator of forests Alex Lemarkoko, KFS board chairman Titus Korir and Kenya Forestry Research Institute director Jane Njuguna were present.
Duale urged some individuals who have been lining up at KFS to secure the plantations not to waste their time, saying the plantations are available to registered saw millers.
Some people visit KFS, harassing the management, he added.
The CS said the state is keen to manage, protect and develop forests.
“Chief Forest Conservator and your team, we want Kenya Forest Service to be self-sufficient, we want Kenya Forest Service to contribute to the exchequer in our country,” Duale said.
“Forests serve as our water catchment areas, they serve as our biodiversity hotspots, they give us carbon sinks and the source of livelihood for millions of Kenyans. However, they are under immense pressure from deforestation, illegal activities and climate change.”
He said the state is keen to grow 15 billion trees, in a bid to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded forest land by the year 2032.