Kenya: Kenya Forest Service recently hosted a awareness workshop on disposal of forest plantation materials, in Uasin Gishu County. The event was attended by a number of forest conservation stakeholders.
The Kenya Forest Service has been playing a crucial role in protecting the forests of the country. The organization has planted many trees in the various communities of the country. They have also led many tree plantation tours and initiatives in the country.
They called on the organization to open forest plantation to allow for harvesting of mature and over mature forest resources. The stakeholders acknowledged that the trees are planted by the Kenya Forest Service. Accordingly, the Service should not be stopped from harvesting the same trees.
Forest plantation establishment is entrenched in the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016. The act provides that “All plantation forests in a public forest shall be managed on a sustainable basis for the production of wood and other forest products and services for commercial purposes”
The Forest Industry Investors also lauded multiple forest plantation outcomes. They have transformed the lives of resource adjacent communities, improving their livelihoods and socioeconomic status.
These benefits include: improved livelihoods and food security. The benefits were also accrued from collecting firewood from the non-merchantable parts of harvested trees.
The stakeholders have also decried the effects of moratorium which stops the harvesting of mature and over mature forest resources. They noted that saying that it is heartbreaking to see over-mature plantation trees rotting away.
Meanwhile the trees beyond their years are felled by the wind meaning wasted revenue to the government and citizens. The stakeholders revealed that the participation of the public is crucial for undertaking disposal of forest plantation materials.
Before any disposal is undertaken in any forest plantations KFS is required by law to engage the public. This ensures sustainable and optimum benefits and utilization of these resources for the right purposes.
The meeting was chaired by the Secretary Administration State Department for Forestry- MECCF, Evans Mutari. The workshop was hosted by KFS Regional Forest Conservator Anthony Musyoka.
Other stakeholders in attendance included, NEMA, KEFRI, Forest Station Managers, County Forest Conservators, Timber Manufacturers Association, CFAs and KFS headquarter staff.