Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Africa Wildlife Foundation Partners with KFS to Rehabilitate Enderit Forest Block in Mau


The President of AWF Prof. Hellen Gichohi plants a tree at the Enderit Forest Block in the Mau Narok Forest as the Chairman of the ICS Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan looks on

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) hosted a tree planting exercise in Mau Narok Forest at the Enderit Forest Station in May that was sponsored by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) with the aim of restoring degraded parts of the mighty Mau Forest Complex.
Among the organizations that participated in the event were the Ministries of Forestry and Wildlife, Environment and Mineral Resources, the Interim Coordinating Secretariat of Mau Forest (ICS), The Provincial Administration, Kenya Wildlife Service, Serena Hotels, National Environmental Fund and Living Light Foundation among many others.   
The Chairman of the ICS Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan who was the key speaker in the event said that the main aim for the tree planting exercises was to reinstate the Mau Forest after it had undergone immense destruction in the previous years. He added that the hydro power potential of Mau was 547 mega watts which was more than a third of the country’s energy production. He also said that the process of reclaiming the entire Mau was still ongoing and 50,000 hectares of forest land had already been reclaimed and returned to the jurisdiction of KFS.
Mr. Hassan Noor said that the destruction of Mau forest complex had reduced by 70% due to the joint protection patrols by various law enforcement agencies led by KFS and supported by the local community. The chairman stated that conservation and rehabilitation of forests was not meant to raise conflicts with forest adjacent communities but rather to build synergies with them for the sustainable management of concerned forests.
Addressing the same gathering, the President of Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Prof. Hellen Gichohi said that in order to save the wildlife in Kenya, there was need to first save the forests. She added that carbon trade was a good business venture of Kenyans if the Mau and other forest lands were to be reclaimed and conserved for purposes of carbon sequestration. She mentioned that AWF was holding consultations with the government which may see the headquarters of the AWF come to Kenya.
Speaking on behalf of the KFS Director, the Senior Assistant Director incharge of watersheds Mr. Benedict Omondi noted that the government through KFS was doing all it can to restore forestry resources. He added that the Service was planning to rehabilitate at least 5000 hectares in the Mau Forest Complex alone.
Article and picture by Ken Gichuki

2 comments:

  1. After MAU focus should be Chepyuk sttlement in Mt Elgon-According to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Cheptais and Kopsiro divisions in Mt Elgon had at least 45 permanent rivers by 1963. By 1975, the figure had dwindled to 31, and by 1985, there were only 24 rivers left. Today, only eight rivers in the area flow throughout the year. Chepyuk was opened for settlement in 1971.There fore it was a mistake for Chepyuk area to be a settlement as it is a water catchment area. The land surveyors for some reason even allocated land plots directly on the banks of rivers and streams, with the result that there has been widespread soil erosion. According the the Ndungu Report, Chepyuk settlement is still a government forest. Why is settlement going on and nobody is raising a finger!!!

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