Tree planting launched in Saboti

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Hon. Dr. Noah Wekesa plants a tree at the venue

The KFS Board Chairman Prof. Richard Musangi addresses members of the public during the tree planting ceremony

The people of Transzoia County joined Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in planting trees at Immaculate Heart Secondary School in Saboti with the running theme of forests for the people. The international year of forests is being observed globally this year and this was one of the many tree planting activities planned by KFS to commemorate the year. Over 18 000 seedlings were given to farmers to plant at their farms.

The occasion was graced by many and guests among them Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Hon. Dr. Noah Wekesa, and Ms Nadin Faida from Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy who was the chief guest, KFS Board Chairman Prof. Richard Musangi, the Senior Deputy Director of Forests Mr. Emilio Mugo, the Regional Commisioner for North Rift Mr. Wanyama Musyambo Among others.

Ms. Faida congratulated the KFS for the good job on sensitization of forest conservation to the public. She said that Kenya’s forest were a major resource that affected virtually all socio-economic sectors in the country. “says yes to life by planting trees,” she said urging the youth to be environmental champions as they are the future of the country.

On his part, Minister affirmed that the ministry was going on with plans to join other partners to start a school tree planting programme across the country. He called for more participation by the private sector in order to improve forest governance. He urged all students in the school to plant five trees every year at the school and at home saying that would be their legacy.

KFS Board Chairman acknowledged that forest were a major resource for sustaining livelihoods. He urged all people to reserve at least 10% of their individual lands for forestry purposes saying this will add up to the required national forest cover.  

Speaking at the same event, the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Hon. Koli Nanok maintained that illegal allocations of forest land in the past had been a major impediment enhancement of forestry in the country.

On his part, the Senior Deputy Director of Forests (SDDF) Mr. Emilio Mugo said that the Service had over 100 million seedlings across the country for planting during the year. He added that KFS was pulling all resources to deal with the back log of unplanted areas saying that this should be complete in two to three years.

The tree planting exercise was presided by a major road show which took two days starting from Nakuru to the Saboti trading centre. This was meant to sensitise the public on the importance of planting trees and conserving the existing forests.

Story by Mike Muratha and pictures by Leakey Sonkoyo

The Kenya Forest Service held a major tree planting exercise in Saboti Constituency, Transnzoia County on 27th June 2011 where over 18 000 seedlings were issued to the farmers to plant at home. The following is a ‘picture speak’ of the event that was presided by a three day road show which began in Nakuru

Mama and Papa Fololo work out the crowd at a stop during the roadshow

The entourage that snaked its way from Nakuru to Saboti

Members of the public participating in the festivities of the roadshow

Some members of the public who showed up at a stop in Salgaa

A young man follows the proceedings at one of the stop overs

'I love tea and trees'

A member of the public hopes for the best as the wheel of fortune rotates

'Ladies in green' the road show crew dancers entertain the crowd at Eldoret

A tree seedling seller guards his merchandise a Moi's Bridge

A member of the public puts his best foot or is it hand forward in celebration of forests

Transzoia here we come

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Hon. Dr. Noah Wekesa plants a tree at the venue of the event before the festivities began

Students of Emmaculate Heart Girls Secondary School who hosted the event entertain the gathered crowd

'Forest Ambassadors', the KFS choir belts out a tune at the event

The North Rift HOC Mr. Solomon Mibey addresses the gathered guests

The Senior Deputy Director of Forests Mr. Emilio Mugo gives his speech at the function

The KFS Board Chairman Prof. Richard Musangi gives his address

The PS Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife Mr. M.A.M Wa-Mwachai addressing the crowd

The Assistant Minister MFW Hon. Koli Nanok makes a speech at the function

The Minister 'gets down' before he addressed the crowd that gathered to celebrate forestry in the region

Low Fresh Water Levels Worrying

The low levels of fresh water in the country is worrying, Director of Water Resources John Nyaoro has said. According to Nyaoro, fresh water covers 2 per cent of total land surface in the country. He attributed this to the destruction of water towers and called for an increase of forest cover as one way of increasing fresh water.

One way of conserving the environment according to him was through Payment for Environmental Service (PES) programme. He said the government was working with other partners to establish the PES programme in other parts of the country. "It has been demonstrated that farmers can protect the catchment areas on their own with little assistance and I urge all stakeholders to make this project a sustainable one," he said.
Under the PES programme that is supported by WWF, the farmers plant fodder crop and trees along contour lines, leave the riparian uncultivated and plant high value crops.
Nyaoro was speaking during the handing over of Sh800,000 PES payment to farmers who have practiced sustainable farming at Wanjohi in Nyandarua.
The funds were given by the Lake Naivasha Growers Group who are mainly flower farms and the major water at Lake Naivasha. The chairman of LNGG Richard Fox was full of praise for the PES programme. He urged flower buyers to chip in.
Batula Wale from WWF said the Dutch government was ready to fund the PES programme. "The conservation of Lake Naivasha will depend on the co-operative efforts of conservationists, farmers and local communities," he said. Wale said introduction of the PES programme was a major step in reinforcing the restoration of degraded areas of the lake ecosystem. The farmers expressed satisfaction with the programme. They attributed it to increased production in their farms.
Source: AllAfrica.com

Karura forest hosts environmental soldier programme celebrations

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Jeremiah Kianga receives an award in recognition of the military's efforts towards environmental conservation

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Jeremiah Kianga plants a tree during the occasion

(From left) the Head of Nairobi Conservancy Mrs. Charity Munyasia, the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Jeremiah Kianga, the AG. Director General NEMA Dr. Ayub Macharia, the Vice Chairman of Friends of Karura Karanja Njoroge and the Vice Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen Julius Karangi pose for a picture at the scenic Karura Falls

The representatives of the Armed Forces of Kenya led by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Jeremiah Kianga were at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) headquarters where they celebrated the forests as one of the country’s major resources. The celebration, held on June 22^nd 2011, was primarily focused on commemorating the role of forests as an essential resource that supports life in the country.

The event was graced by different personalities including Nobel Peace Laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai, United Nations Environmental Programme, Executive Director, Achim Steiner, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Mr. Mohamed Wa-Mwachai, the KFS Senior Deputy Director Mr. Emilio Mugo among other senior military and KFS officers.

In his speech, Gen. Kianga who was the chief guest appreciated forests as key resources which Kenyans use to sustain their lives. He regretted that these resources were being lost at an alarming rate especially  in arid and semi-arid parts of the country.  He hailed the Kenya Armed Forces Environmental Soldier Programme that has been very instrumental in promoting environmental conservation by engaging in tree planting activities during this year which has been earmarked as the International Year of Forests.

“It has become clear to the Armed Forces that defending and protecting a country effectively also means protecting its main resource,” he said. The General added that soldiers have been given seedlings to plant in their homes therefore boosting the percentage of forest cover in the country. He noted that the programme between KFS and the Armed Forces is an excellent partnership that would promote conservation and rehabilitation forests like the Mau Forest Complex.

Mr. Wa-Mwachai who was representing the Minister said that the programme that was established by the Forces would immensely contribute to the realization of a 10% forest cover   by the year 2030. He thanked the army for slotting in the tree planting as one of their many activities. He also commended the partnership of the military and KFS and encouraged organizations to engage in projects and joint ventures aimed at enhancing the country’s forest with the Service.

KFS Deputy Director, Mr. Emilio Mugo said that the Service is greatly honored to be associated with the programme and it would continue working hand in hand with the Armed Forces in initiating programmes and projects that would enhance forestry in the country.

Article pictures by Ken Gichuki

Farmer Field Schools in Transzoia graduate

The Head of Conservancy for North Rift Forest Conservancy Area Mr. Solomon Mibey hands presents a certificate to one of the graduating farmers at Naisambu. Looking on is the Project Manager for GZDSP Mr. Jerome Mwanzia and the Forest Zonal Manager for Transzoia Mr. Simon Wahome

The just graduated farmer groups take a group photo together with the guests

The  22^nd of June was not just an ordinary day for communities in Transzoia County as they witnessed a rare graduation.  Farmers from Baraton, Naisambu, and Nyasi Farmer Field Schools (FFS) graduated amid dancing and jubilations in a ceremony graced by fellow community members the local leadership and officers from the KFS headquarters. The farmers who have been attending the ‘school without walls’ for  at least one and a half years had an impressive report to show for the years they were educated. among the most outstanding were horticulture, beekeeping and agro-forestry in their farms and a plantation of eucalyptus.

In attendance was the Head of Conservancy for North Rift who was also the chief guest Mr. Solomon Mibey, the project manager for Green Zones Development Support Project (GZDSP) Mr. Jerome Mwanzia whose project sponsored the groups and the Transzoia Forest Zonal Manager Mr. Simon K Wahome among other guests.

Mr. Mibey who was visibly impressed by the farmers’ performance urged them to practice what they had learnt on their farms and encouraged them to each establish a tree nursery to as to enhance tree planting in their areas as well as earn some income.

While addressing the same gathering, Mr. Mwanzia also congratulated the farmers and urged them to establish wood lots on their farms saying that this will ensure steady supply of domestic wood demands. He promised the farmers an exchange visit which would enable them learn what other farmers who had undergone similar training were doing.

The farmers thanked KFS for facilitating them and assisting the community in improving their livelihoods and eradicating poverty. 

Article and pictures by Caroline Kahuria

Farmers field schools in Kakamega County graduates

The Assistant Project Manager for GZDSP Mr. Eric Nahama presenting a certificate to a couple who were among the graduating farmers

The Emuhaya DC Mr. Wambua Muthami presenting a certificate to one of the graduating farmers

Farmers from Forest Farmer Field Schools (FFFS) or rather ‘schools without walls’ from Kakamega county graduated in June after undergoing a course on integrating food production and forestry for one and a half years.  The farmers were from Emuhaya, Kegondi, Kaptis, Jamishire, Moto Mwaka and Majaliwa farmer field schools. In attendance were the local leaders led by the District Commisioner for Emuhaya Mr. Wambua Muthami and the Zonal managers from the respective Zones. The schools were sponsored by Green Zones Development Support Project (GZDSP) whose officials led by the project’s Assistant Manager Mr. Eric Nahama were also present. 

The farmers who were evidently ecstatic, thanked the KFS and the project for facilitating their training by sending them facilitators who took them though the grueling training and making them ‘expert farmers’. They proudly said that with the education they could now manage their lands, plant the right tree species and even beautify their compounds through tree terracing. The farmers learnt by experimenting the effects of mixing food crops with different tree species all in a bid to discover the most viable option.

The farmers requested that they be allowed to practice PELIS 100 acres in Kibiri forest to which they were assured that their request would be considered

While addressing the farmers, Mr. Nahama commended the farmers for their hard work and urged them to write proposals to donors for funding so they could execute projects which would assist them in continuing with the good work they had started.

 
Article and pictures by Caroline Kahuria

Participatory forest management crucial in improving livelihoods and managing forest resources

When local people become equal partners in the benefits and responsibilities of sustainable forest management many opportunities open up for them. Reliable access to forest resources means they can increase their cash income and engage in developing sustainable enterprises. What’s more, there is a clear incentive to better manage their lands to ensure the sustainability of the forest resources.

The leading international organizations working to protect and manage the world’s forests are calling for governments across the globe to increase communities’ role in forest management. Doing so could contribute to lifting close to a billion people out of poverty as well as improve the health and vitality of forests. People who live in or adjacent to forests are highly dependent on them for their food, fuel and medicines, are most often not those who control the decisions on how these resources are used and managed. Strengthening the community rights over their own forests reduce poverty and also benefits forest biodiversity.

A total of 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. About 1.4 billion of these people live in the developing world, and 1 billion live in extreme poverty. Recently-released data by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Global Partnership for Forest Landscape Restoration show that approximately 1.2 billion hectares of deforested or degraded areas could be restored through better, locally-controlled management.

The Collaborative Partnership of Forests (CPF) has seen again and again that by increasing local people’s ownership in the management of forest resources, communities are frequently in a better position to start forest product-based business, from which they can derive incomes. The current international efforts to develop mechanisms for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) and enhancing forest carbon stocks in developing countries represent new possibilities for local communities to benefit from sustainable management and conservation of forests.

It is therefore evident that unless considerable progress is made in securing the rights of local people to access, manage and benefit from forests, it is unlikely that deforestation and illegal logging will be curbed.

Source: Science Africa Vol. 16 (June-July 2011 Issue)