Monday, May 30, 2011

KFS' warning on charcoal

By Kiplangat Kirui

Kenya Forest Service has issued a notice to all members of the public in  larger Narok district against stocking more than five bags of charcoal along the Naivasha-Narok highway. KFS zone manager Joshua Charana said those selling outside kiosks and road sides will be arrested and prosecuted.

KFS has impounded 300 bags of charcoal from Narok traders in the past week. He added  that charcoal burning and haphazard clearing of farms contribute to the degradation of the environment. He told farmers to plant trees in their farms in a bid to avert a future crisis.

Nairobi-based environmentalist Jolly Chepkirui Kemei said Kenya might soon turn into a desert if run-away charcoal burning was notstopped. Chepkirui said indiscriminate clearing of land for charcoal and unsuitable farming had reached worrying levels.

She  said that there was need to stop the illegal trade in a move to conserve the environment. “The government and environmentalists had put too much effort on Mau forest yet a lot of destruction was also going on private farms.”Said Chepkirui. 

Source: The Star, 28 May 2011

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