Forestry Society Of Kenya Elects New Offoce Bearers

The new office bearers - (L-R) The Treasurer Mr. Kepha Wamichwe, Secretary Ms. Anne Bora and Chairman Mr.John Mbaya 

Members of the Society pose for a group photograph after the Annual General Meeting. In the background is the Chief Conservator's house now christened Forest House at the Nairobi Arboretum.

 

The Forestry Society of Kenya was registered in 1970 to offer a forum for discussion among professional foresters and other persons interested in forestry development and environmental conservation. The society also creates a platform where foresters sit together and share their experiences, new trends in their career and they discuss ways of improving the forestry sector.

Currently the society is looking forward to promote professionalism and well being of Kenya’s forestry sector through strengthened professionalism in research and policy to influence conservation and management of forests. The society also contributes to sustainable and effective forest management through research projects and publications. To achieve all these, the society elected its leaders on April 15^th 2010 where John Mbaya was elected as the Chairman of the society, Ann Bora the secretary and Kepha Wamichwe Treasurer. They will serve for a 2 year term.   

  

Report courtesy of Martin Masila

Celebrities Lead Youth In Koibatek Tree Planting Event

Celebrities who attended the tree planting including Project Fame Judge Ian Mbugua (centre) during the tree planting event in Koibatek Forest Zone

Esageri Sebatia Environmental Conservation Organization is an environment group based in Koibatek district. This group’s main objective is to plant trees and create environmental awareness; the group has 30 tree nurseries each of these stocked with indigenous tree species.

According to the groups culture, they normally take the Easter holiday as an opportunity to plant trees, where they invite the local communities and also engage them in the activity so as to make them participate and help increase Kenya’s forest cover. During their tree planting week this year the group managed to plant 10,000 indigenous tree seedlings in Sebatia forest which is also in the Mau complex where Kenya Forest Service donated 4000 seedlings and also other partners and well wishers donated 6000 seedlings to be planted during the one week tree planting session.

The tree planting was attended by more than 500 people among them being Kenyan artistes. “Stop talking start planting” these where the words of Ian Mbugua of Project Fame where he encouraged all Kenyans to come forward and plant trees, Professor Karanja Njoroge of Green Belt Movement also urged the youth and all Kenyan artists to work together and help to conserve the environment by planting as many trees as possible. 

Other celebrities who attended the tree planting occasion were musicians ‘Pilipili’, Wanyakuzi clan, and ‘the Team’ drama cast. The musicians also entertained the community later in the day. The chairman of ESACO group, Mr. Albert Lagat, urged the youth and also the church to join hands and work towards managing and conserving the environment, he continued by thanking the Ministry of Forestry and wildlife who have been their partner for the support it has been offering the group by Kazi Kwa Vijana through Kenya Forest Service which has also been of great help.

Report Courtesy Martin Masila

Permanent Secretaries Plant Trees In Karura

Ambassador Francis Muthaura leads all PS's in the tree planting event at Karura Forest

All permanent secretaries gathered for a tree planting event in Karura forest a day after the Earth Day on 23^rd April 2010 in a show of unity among all the government ministries in forest conservation.  This came just a day after the Prime Minister Right Hon. Raila Odinga led another powerful delegation consisting of government officers and a section of the diplomatic corps to the Mau Forest Complex to mark the Earth Day with tree planting.

The chief guest was the Secretary to the Cabinet and the Head of the Public Service Ambassador Francis Muthuara who stated that planting trees was an investment for the future of the country. He applauded the work being done by KFS in forest management saying that Kenyans were already experiencing the change in forestry management.

Ambassador Muthaura also took the opportunity to direct all government departments at the district level led by the District Commissioners to set aside a day of tree planting each year starting with this year. He also directed that they should identify suitable spaces within their office premises to plant trees. He observed that the government in general and civil servants in particular should take the lead in forest conservation so that the country can reach the target of 10% forest cover by the year 2030.

Ambassador Muthaura also lauded parliament’s role in enacting the Forest Act 2005 which he said made it difficult for anyone to excise or otherwise change forest land for any other use. “It now requires the approval of parliament for one to privatise forest land a requirement that we all know is quite impossible to achieve,” said Mr. Muthaura.

Addressing the same gathering, Hon. Fred Gumo decried land grabbing terming it as responsible for the decline in forest cover in Kenya. He went ahead to mention that Kenyans’ attachment to land should be discouraged as it had lead to serious offences involving the grabbing of public lands and especially forests. He noted that in the new regime, land grabbing had ceased as His Excellency the President did not tolerate the vice.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife Mr. M A M Wa-Mwachai while addressing his colleagues thanked them for finding time to come to Karura for the important and symbolic event. He assured the other permanent secretaries that KFS was doing all it can to correct past mistakes that had seen the destruction of forests in Kenya. “We used to be told that foresters are the worst forest offenders, but that’s no longer the case,” said Mr. Wa-Mwachai.

On his part, the Director KFS Mr. David Mbugua thanked the permanent secretaries for planting trees in Karura and assured them that KFS was going full throttle to sustainably manage Kenya’s forests. He mentioned that there were plans to fence important forests like Karura in order to prevent illegal activities.

In attendance also at the event was the spouse to the British High Commissioner to Kenya Mrs. Alice Macaire who is also the chairperson of the Friends of Karura association. While appreciating the beauty of Kenya’s forests, she said Kenyans should take the lead in the preservation of their forests. “This is your country and these are your forests so preserve them,” she declared.

Report Courtesy of Leakey Sonkoyo

Raila Marks Earth Day By Planting Trees In Mau

The Rt.Hon. Raila Odinga unveiling the plaque to commemorate Earth Day in Songi-Kobiyet Forest,Mau. With him is the Minister for Forestry & Wildlife, Hon. Dr. Noah Wekesa

The American Ambassodor, Mr. Ranneberger planting a tree during the same ocassion. 

All roads yet again led to the Mau Forest Complex at Kiptunga forest station where several hundreds of people including the local community, some members of the diplomatic corps, a KFS delegation and the Prime Minister who was the chief guest gathered to plant trees in marking the international Earth Day celebrations.

It turned out to be a double celebration for KFS and especially the Mau Forest when the American Ambassador Mr. Michael Ranneberger who was in attendance announced a seven million dollars grant by the US government towards the restoration of the Mau.

While addressing the gathered crowd, the Prime Minister Right Hon. Raila Odinga thanked the American Government on behalf of the Kenyan Government for the kind gesture. He assured the ambassador that the money would be put to good use in reclaiming and reforesting the forest. The Prime Minister also noted that the process of restoring the whole of the Mau Complex was moving at a good pace and lauded the Interim Coordinating Secretariat (ICS) for their efforts.

Hon. Odinga cautioned people and especially politicians against personalizing and politicizing forest conservation noting that Kenya’s forests were a heritage for all Kenyans and not just a few communities. He noted that some Kenyan forest like the Mau was affecting the livelihoods of millions of people in the region and not just locally. The Prime Minister vowed to continue fighting for the restoration of the Mau until it was achieved saying that that was an important legacy to be associated with.

While addressing the same gathering, the American Ambassador Mr. Michael Ranneberger said that Kenya was sending a very strong and positive signal to the international community that it was taking environmental conservation seriously. He said this had prompted his government to commit the funds amounting to over half a billion shillings for the restoration of the Mau which he said was a very important to the country and the region.

Speaking at the same event, the chairman of the ICS Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan pointed out the economic value of the forest was insurmountable and that the loses that were being incurred due to the destruction of the forest were astronomical. He noted that tourism, hydropower and agriculture were suffering due to the status of the Mau.

The KFS Director Mr. David Mbugua thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the government for the support extended to the Service since its inception. He added that the Service was doing everything within its capacity to make sure that all forests remain intact. He said that proper zoning of forest areas was being done to set aside areas for conservation in the form of indigenous forests and other areas for production of wood products for country’s industrial growth.

Report Courtesy of Leakey Sonkoyo

Mbeere Farmers Graduate Via Farmer Field Schools (FFS)

A farmer demonstrates to guests of honour

The graduates pose for a group photo

Mrs. Lucy Kiboi issues a certificate to a graduating farmer.

A total of 86 farmers who had been undergoing a one year course on integrating conventional farming and tree planting otherwise known as the Farmer Field School (FFS) recently graduated in two colourful ceremonies in Mbeere Forest Zone which covers both Mbeere North and South Districts.

Speaking at the event, the Director’s Representative at the graduation ceremony Mrs. Lucy Kiboi who is also the Deputy Director in charge of Corporate Services congratulated the farmers and urged them to apply what they had learnt on their farms in order to alleviate their living conditions. She called upon those who had not joined the FFS to do so as it had been realized that those who had gone through the course were doing better on their farms.

The Deputy Director for Forest Extension Services Mrs. Monicah Kalenda reminded the farmers that the country would only achieve its target of 10% forest cover if farmers plant trees on their farms. Mrs. Kalenda added that KFS had adopted the FFS concept as the preferred methodology for its forest extension in order to reach out to farmers whom she said would drive forest conservation in Kenya.

At the event was the Mbeere North District Commisioner Mr. Chelimo Chebii who informed the farmers that the government was preparing to implement a new regulation that requires all farmers to reserve 10% of their farms for tree planting.

The two groups comprising of mostly women were given practical lessons by KFS extension officers where they learnt for themselves the best crops and tree species to plant in different areas.  And to cap the two events, all the farmers who had successfully completed the course were awarded a certificate which made them expert farmers or wakulima wataalamu. 

Report Courtesy of Leakey Sonkoyo 

Lord David Sainsbury Visits Tree BioTechnology Programme Trust In Karura

The Chairman of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation (GCF) which is the single biggest donor of the Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) Lord David Sainsbury recently visited the project situated at the Kenya Forest Service headquarters in Karura to see the project his foundation has been funding for over 10 years now.

According to the TBPT Board of Trustees Chairman Mr. Joe Kibe, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation has funded the programme to the tune of the US dollars 1.1 million making it the biggest single donor to the programme that uses the latest biotechnology to propagate high quality tree seedlings for farmers.

Speaking after a tour of the facility, Lord Sainsbury lauded the programme saying that it was positively changing the lives of farmers in Kenya by offering high quality seedlings which grow faster and produce more biomass.

Referring to the misconception associated with the eucalyptus tree in regards to water absorption, Lord Sainsbury said that the species’ efficiency in water uptake should be gauged against its high productivity in terms of biomass and the other numerous products that come from it. He said that the tree consumes twice the amount of water consumed by a normal tree because it grows twice as fast. He pointed out that research had been done and guidelines put forward to direct the proper growing of the tree.

“People can only see the importance of forests if they benefit commercially from the same” said Lord Sainsbury. The eucalyptus programme was giving farmers opportunities to benefit from forests, he added.

He urged small scale farmers to embrace the eucalyptus in order to meet the demand for wood products as well as alleviating climate change. He urged the project to expand its services to the regions in order to meet the growing demand.

On reforestation, Lord Sainsbury suggested that the technology of gene and species selection be used as it will ensure faster growth of the trees being planted in degraded areas. He said that the same technology used to produce high quality eucalyptus hybrids could also be used in other tree species including indigenous ones.

While thanking GCF for its continued support to the TBPT, KFS Director Mr. David Mbugua speaking at the same event pointed out that KFS had developed a guideline on the proper growing of eucalyptus in Kenya. He said that farmers had been advised on the proper areas to plant the species saying that the controversy associated with its growth was largely informed by a lack of knowledge on the management of the species.

The Director said that Kenya required 40 million cubic meters of wood every year yet it could not produce it in the present circumstances. He added that the eucalyptus had become the tree of choice for Kenyans due its many advantages.

Report Courtesy – Charles Ngunjiri 

Lord Sainsbury (R) is shown eucalptus seedlings by Project Manager, B. Kanyi

KFS Director, D.K. Mbugua addresses the press as Lord Sainsbury looks on

It seems the Lord is saying how glad he is to be in Kenya.,  

"How do you do that?" 

Mau families in the cold as homes razed

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By JULIUS SIGEI
Posted Thursday, April 15 2010 at 21:22

Narok County Council askaris (security officers) on Thursday razed houses at the Maasai Mau Forest. Shocked settlers ,who called the Nation, said they thought the evictions had started and wondered why they were being kicked out contrary to the government promise that the process would be carried out in a humane manner.

They said five houses were burnt in the dawn raid which left some of them homeless. “They also took many of our personal effects like farm implements and destroyed maize which had ripened,” said Mr Samuel Koech, a resident.

Mr Koech said that the council askaris had been harassing them and called for the government’s to intervene. He said the area was occupied by the indigenous Ogiek community, adding that it was wrong for the government to kick them out of their ancestral home.
Efforts to get a comment from the county council bosses were unfruitful as their phones went unanswered. However, a government official, who requested not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the Press, said the settlers have been defying a directive not to put up new structures until the demarcation exercise was completed.

“While I am not vouching for the askaris’ behaviour, it is true that the settlers have been defying orders not to build new houses,” he said. Unlike the other 21 forest blocks of the Mau Complex which have been gazetted and are managed by the Kenya Forest Services, the 46,278-hectare Maasai Mau is trust land managed by the Narok County Council.

It has also emerged that the marking of boundaries, which should have ended last Friday, has stalled due to the hostility of settlers towards the surveyors. On more than one occasion, the settlers kicked the surveyors out of their areas, saying they were interfering with their farms.

Narok South DC Chimwaga Mongo confirmed that there have been difficulties in the exercise. “Indeed the interim coordinating secretariat chairman Hassan Noor Hassan has asked us to go to the ground today to pacify the settlers,” said Mr Mongo. The completion of the survey will pave the way for the launch of the third phase of the restoration of the country’s water tower.

Courtesy Saturday  Nation-




Kenya Names Bamboo as Wonder Food – Imparts Skills to Farmers

The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri) and other groups are helping farmers to become compliant to a government order by supplanting eucalyptus trees to more versatile bamboos. According to the Daily Nation, anticipating increased demand in bamboo, the Kefri and other agricultural organizations have been training farmers on plantation, choice of edible bamboo and related utilities.

On the day one of a Kefri training session the farmers were greeted with the message – “Are you going hungry? Well, you need not suffer from hunger pangs any more if you have bamboo growing on your farm or in a nearby forest.” It is estimated that more than 10mn Kenyans either go hungry or survive on a single meal a day; scientists believe bamboo shoots would be able to assuage the situation as it is found to be a cheap fibre-rich food substitute.

The scientists who trained the farmers treated them with bamboo shoot cuisine and taught how to prepare them. Nevertheless, Peter Kungu, a technologist, cautioned the attentive farmers that not all types of bamboo shoots were edible as some contained cyanide, a highly toxic chemical that could kill humans within hours.

Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant and has been known to surge skyward as much as 121 cm in 24 hours. Bamboo is a regular dish among Asian countries particularly in Japan and Far East countries but relatively a new food concept in Kenya.

Besides including bamboo as a food supplement in daily diet, Kenya will attempt to extend its usage into handicraft and furniture products. Currently bamboo is widely used in the flower industry for support purposes, and pea farmers use them to support plants.

The Kenyan government imposed the decree following a finding that eucalyptus trees are chief water-depleting agent in the river basin. Kangema environment officer Isaiah Gichuru informed the removal of eucalyptus was bearing fruit as water levels in rivers and springs in the region have risen. However, farmers still have the option of growing the fast-maturing eucalyptus trees away from river banks.

The Tree Biotechnology Trust, a semi--government agency, has received $3.65mn from former UK minister for Science and Technology, Lord David Sainsbury to further bamboo project across Kenya. Sainsbury suggested the project would contribute significantly both to the economy as well as the environment. He also said that he is engaged in similar programmes in Tanzania and Uganda.

By Jose Roy

Kenyan student invents device to fight forest fires

14 Apr 2010 23:01:00 GMT

Written by: AlertNet correspondent

A Kenya Forest Services worker uses branches to try to extinguish a fire at Karura forest near the capital Nairobi in March 2009. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna

By David Njagi
Efforts to curb forest loss around the world as a means of cutting carbon emissions just got a boost: A Kenyan student has invented a device to automatically detect forest fire outbreaks.
The technology, produced by Pascal Katana, a 24-year-old University of Nairobi engineering student, uses heat sensors to detect a fire, then automatically relays the information to a forest station through mobile phone technology.
"The heat sensors are programmed to detect temperatures which are over 45 degrees Celsius," said the soft-spoken inventor. "Temperature from the sun does not go beyond this level in terms of heating and that is why it will be easy to tell that a fire could have been ignited."
In a demonstration at the University of Nairobi, Katana altered sensor levels to detect body temperate and then touched the sensor with his finger. That immediately triggered a call to his mobile phone.
"This is how the system is expected to work," he said. "Once the forest station receives the alert, the rangers can then marshal reinforcements from the nearby fire station to put out the fire."
DEVICE WORKS ON SOLAR POWER
The system is suitable in areas where there is no electricity supply because it can be powered by a simple solar panel that generates five volts of energy, he said.
"It is a simple technology because one does not have to be literate to operate it," the electrical and electronics engineering student said, calling it a "plug and play" device.
The device still has to go through a vetting and trial process before it can be granted patent protection, according to Hussein Said of Kenya's National Council for Science and Technology. But it may offer significant benefits in Kenya, which suffered widespread forest fires last year as a result of prolonged drought.
"2009 was the worst period for us in terms of fire outbreaks because it was preceded by a prolonged drought," said Samuel Tokole, an official of the Kenya Wildlife Service, a government agency that protects and conserves the country's biodiversity, and struggled to find enough resources to cope with last year's fires.
"What is most frustrating is that I can't really say we have what we need in terms of technology and equipment to fight forest fires," he said.
Fires in Kenya last year destroyed 11,370 hectares of bush and forest land. Thirty-five percent of the already heavily deforested Mau Forest Complex was lost to fire, according to Noor Hassan Noor, an administrator in Kenya's Rift Valley province.
Noor called the new fire reporting device a potentially useful part of Kenya's effort to keep forest fires in check.
"This is an interesting invention which the government should support given the damage forest fires do to our ecosystems," he said.
David Njagi is an environmental writer based in Nairobi.Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites


Courtesy of- http://www.alertnet.org/db/an_art/60167/2010/03/14-230120-1.htm

Forestry in the News on Thursday, April 15, 2010

Daily Nation-page 32 –an article with the title- “Five charged with illegal cultivation of forest land”

Kenya Times-page 5-an article with the title-“State to participate in conservation  of Kaya forests, says PS”

The Star -page 3 an ongoing campaign by Kenya Forest Service on importance of planting trees. Still in this page- A picture of President Kibaki planting a tree to commemorate the opening of the upgraded Lanet-Nakuru-Njoro-road yesterday

Forestry in the News on Friday, April 02, 2010- April 14, 2010

Forestry in the News on Friday, April 02, 2010

EA Standard- page 23-an article with the title-“Mau team to begin scrutiny of title deeds”

Page 25-an article with the title-“Mau Forest, drugs and corruption themes steal the show on Day Two” .Controversial Mau Forest reclamation, alcoholisim and corruption were the main themes on Day Two of the national drama festival.

Daily Nation-page 28-an article with the title-“KFS invites bids for new wind plants”

Page 32-an article with the title-“Maasai Mau survey ends in five days”

The Star-page 11 –an article with the title-“Mau may be greener in 2011”

Forestry in the News on Saturday 03/04/10

Saturday Nation 03/04/2010- page 8 an article with the title-“Heavy rains disrupt tree-planting work”. Heavy rains disrupted tree planting exercise at the launch of Kazi kwa Vijana launch in Isiolo Town.

Page 2 –an article with the title-“Drive to save Mau enters third phase”

Forestry in the News on Sunday April 04, 2010

 Sunday Times 04/04/2010-page 3-an article with the title-“KKV project receives Sh25m in Marakwet”

Sunday Nation  04/04/2010- page 23 –an article with the title-“Christians spread the green gospel”. Christians are saving the Kenya’s forests by leading a tree planting drive. Green African Foundation launched the drive at ICC Church

Forestry in the News on Monday, April 05, 2010

Business Daily-Page 1, 7-an article with the title-“Forest Service to venture into energy”

The Star-page 6 an article with the title-“Tea farmers to plant 50,000 trees in Mau”

Page 7- an article with the title-“Jomo Kenyatta tree defies storm”. Kenya’s three most famous trees have defied a rainstorm in Githunguri. Also a picture of one of the old trees felled by wind in Githunguri.

Page 3- an advert by Kenya Forest Service on an ongoing campaign on to encourage people to plant trees.

Daily Nation-page 8-an article with the title-“Youths to plant trees in drive to save forests”

Page26-a picture of The Director of Forestry Conservation’Mr Hewson Kibugi cutting the tape to officially launch the Mt Kenya University Indigenous Tree Planting Programme at the Institutions in Thika accompanied  by Miss Forest Queen 2009 and Miss Moreen Ngugi(1^st runner’s up).

Forestry in the News on Tuesday, April 06, 2010

The Star- page 4-an article with the title-“Wananchi to help grow the forest cover by 2%”.

Page 6-an article with the title-“KKV trees for Sh8, 500 wage”. A massive tree planting campaign under the KKV programme has been launched.

Page 21-an article with the title-“Innovate Maasai women reap big from beekeeping”

Daily Nation-page 14-an article with the title-“Maasai Mau evictions to start soon”

Business Daily- Page 17-an article with the title- “To grow and prosper your firm, mind environment”. Accompanied by a picture of Forest Rangers planting trees.

The People-page 13 an article with the title-“Farms and forests in the fight against climate change”

Kenya Times-page 7-an article with the title-“Experts warns on climate change risks”

EA Standard- page 7 an advert by Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources-titled”Launch of Lake Naivasha catchment 0

Forestry in the News on Wednesday, April 07, 2010

The Star- page 3-an advert by Kenya Forest Service on the ongoing campaign encouraging people to grow trees.

Page 6-an article with the title-“Michuki’s 7.6 billion trees before 2012”.Environment Minister John Michuki has said the government will plant 7.6 billion trees across the country to increase forest cover.

Business Daily- Page 12-an article with the title- “Water quality in Kenya worsens with climate change”

Page 18-an article with the title-“Electricity crisis fuels deforestation across Zimbabwe”

Kenya Times -page 5 -an article with the title-“Ministry to plant 7b trees in water catchment areas”. Environment ministry has embarked on a rehabilitation programme of water catchment areas targeting to plant 7b trees countrywide by 2030.

Page 24-an article with the title-“Blending ecotourism and conservation” 

The Sunday Express-page 11 an article with the title- “Tree seedlings for Mau Forest”. The Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA) has set aside 50,000 indigenous tree seedlings for the rehabilitation of Mau Forest when the government begins tree planting in the area.

Page 13-an article with the title-“Group wants communities enlightened on conservation”. Forest Action Network is urging the government to partner with the communities and enlighten them on the need for forest conservation.

Forestry in the News on Thursday, April 08, 2010

The Star- Page 6-an article with the title-“Evicted Mau Squatters to remain in camps”

Business Daily- Page 5-an article with the title- “Trade unionists renew their climate change payment campaign”

Page 18-an article with the title-“Electricity crisis fuels deforestation across Zimbabwe”

Daily Nation-page 32 -an article with the title-“Charcoal prices soar amid heavy rains and strict laws”

Page 35 –an article with the title-“Police destroy six houses in Mau forest”

Page 1’2(Horizon)-a story titled-“Where wild trees are the only ally”. A story about a family that survived on wild trees during the dry season in Kyuso District, Eastern province.

EA Standard-page 11-an article with the title-“State plans to plant 7.6bn trees by 2012”

Page 28(Panorama)-an article with the title-“Kakamega forest may be wiped out in 20 years”

The People Daily (The People’s Environment)-an article with the title-“Greener stoves cook up health benefits-study reports”. Another article with the title- “Drought heightens forest-fire risk”.

Page 14-an article with the title-“Charcoal burning short term solution to bigger energy problem”

Page 24-an article with the title –“Atwoli urges more funding for Environment ministry”

Forestry in the News on Friday, o9 April, 2010

EA Standard –page 26 an article with the title-“Iddi Achieng for Mau Forest Tree planting”. Top local artists will be in Mau Forest this weekend for tree planting exercise.

Business Daily -page 2 an article with the title-“Forest Service to venture into energy”. Kenya Forest Service is gunning for a piece of the electricity market in an effort to grow its energy.

Page 9-an article with the title-“US to host top economies meeting on climate change”

Forestry in the News on Saturday, April 10, 2010

The Saturday Nation 10^th, April 2010-page 3 an article with the title-“Drive to plant 10 per cent of land with trees launched”

Page 9-an article with the title-“All set for Maasai Mau evictions as survey ends”

Page 21-an article with the title-“Rifts emerge at UN climate talks”

The Star on Saturday 10^th April, 2010- Page 6-an article with the title-“Ruto starts agro forestry campaign in Limuru”

Forestry in the News on Sunday, April 11, 2010

The EA Standard on Sunday 11^th April, 2010- page 5-an article with the title- “650 tree nurseries set up on conservation campaign”. Several agencies in Murang’a have set aside funds to promote tree planting in the water towers.

Forestry in the News on Monday, April 12, 2010

Business Daily- Page 5-an article with the title- “Trade unionists renew their climate change payment campaign”

Page 18-an article with the title-“Electricity crisis fuels deforestation across Zimbabwe”

Daily Nation-page 6 –a picture of Nairobi university students planting trees at Kiptunga in the Mau forest on Saturday

Page 10 –an article with the title-“Create Mau Forest in your own backyard”

Page 14(Letters to the Editor) a letter to the editor by Benjamin Mogere titled-“Plant trees in Mau”

EA Standard- page 5-an advert by Kenya Forest Service about an ongoing campaign encouraging people to plant trees.

Page 4-an article with the title- “Group opposes tree planting”. The Sengwer community has blocked KFS from planting trees on 400 ha at Kapolet forest claiming the KANU regime allocated them the land.

The East African-page 34 an article with the title-“Experts lobby govts to adopt laws that promote rainwater harvesting”. Same page an article titled-“Hoe ICT can grow green economies in Africa”

Forestry in the News on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Daily Nation-page 6 –an article with the title-“Bamboo now the plant of choice”

Page 10 –an article with the title-“Weather services ‘poorly funded’.”

Page 14(Letters to the Editor) a letter to the editor by Tome Francis titled-“Tree planting”.

EA Standard- page 10-an article with the title-“Step up weather forecast, Africa told”

Page 16(Letters)-a letter to the editor by Peter Kimwele titled-“State must resettle Mau Forest evictees”. –

The Star-page 3-an advert by Kenya Forest Service about an ongoing campaign encouraging people to plant trees.

Page 6-an article with the title-“Njoro residents plant 2,000 tree seedlings in save-the -Mau campaign”

The People Daily-page 16 an article with the title-“Farmers in Western province urged to plant palm trees”

Forestry in the News on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Daily Nation-page 18 –an article with the title- “Feeling famished? Munch on bamboo”

Scientists tout the shoot of the giant grass as food.

EA Standard- page 18-an article with the title-“The tree of life saving Ukambani’s starving”. People of Ukambani are using the benefits of the Ukwanju tree to save them from starvation

Business Daily-page 12-an article with the title-“Giving up climate treaty may unblock UN deal”