NEWS
Kenya firms pledge Mau rehabilitation
By LUCAS BARASA
Posted Wednesday, May 26 2010 at 14:37
Posted Wednesday, May 26 2010 at 14:37
Various organisations have offered to help rehabilitate 85,000 acres of Mau Forest Complex.
The Kenya Forest Service said Wednesday it is set to sign agreements with some of the organisations on Thursday.
The agreements, KFS director David Mbugua said, have increased hope of success in Mau restoration efforts.
He said the new commitments were as a result of intensive consultations involving the Mau Interim Coordinating Secretariat, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and KFS, Mr Mbugua said in a statement.
“The stakeholders coming on board are an essential boost to the organisation’s effort to turn back the Mau to what it used to be,” he said.
“Incorporating an agreement is affirmation of commitment to restore the Mau Forest Ecosystem and improve its value for socioeconomic development of the society,".
Among the organisations expected to sign agreements with KFS at its Nairobi headquarters include: African Wildlife Foundation, James Finlay, (K) Ltd., Malaika Ecotourism & Coral Cay Conservation UK, and Save the Mau Trust Fund.
“Government Ministries of Energy and State for Defence have also come in to adapt significant sections of the Mau forest,” Mr Mbugua said.
Boundary
He said the groups will rehabilitate the areas for a minimum of three years.
ICS, which has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring the successful restoration of the Mau Forest, says much of the boundary marking is complete and that it was now analysing the profile data.
The Hassan Noor Hassan-led team will then start Phase III of the restoration exercise.
The government has been facing stiff opposition from some Rift Valley leaders over its efforts to conserve the 400,000 hectares Mau Forest Complex.
Hundreds of squatters were removed from the forest in the first and second phase of the restoration efforts.
Former President Moi is among senior personalities targeted in the third phase.
Mau is Kenya’s biggest water tower whose destruction has threatened the survival of 12 rivers flowing into Lake Victoria.
The illegal felling of trees at the forest is also a threat to agriculture, tourism and energy sectors
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