Kenya: The CEO of the Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation (NTZDC) David Chepkwony paid a courtesy call on the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Alex Lemarkoko on Monday. The meeting was hosted at his office in Karura to facilitate discussions on how the two organisations can work together to enhance forest conservation.
Chepkwony was recently appointed as the CEO of the organization. He said that there was a need to improve stakeholder engagement and collaboration. He said that the KFS was their biggest partner.
The CEO added that NTZDC was mandated to protect Kenya’s natural forests through the establishment of tea buffer zones. These zones prevent forest encroachment but also provide an alternative source of livelihood for communities living near forested areas.
The corporation also manages commercial tea production and conservation initiatives that contribute to Kenya’s economy and environmental sustainability through production of high quality indigenous seedlings which are used to rehabilitate natural forests while contributing to 15 billion tree growing campaign.
The CCF said both KFS and NTZDC shared a common interest of conserving Kenya’s natural forests. He made these remarks while thanking the CEO for visiting.
He lauded the ideology behind the formation of the corporation saying that the buffer zone had been instrumental in the protection of forests especially in Mau, Central Highlands and North Rift Forest Conservancies.
The CCF noted that there was need to redefine the role of NTZDC to further strengthen its conservation role given that it occupies over 12,000 ha of gazetted forest land. He agreed that there were other opportunities for partnership which the two organisations could pursue.
These include working together to enhance production of high quality seedlings for forest rehabilitation and sharing of assets such as transportation vehicles during tree planting activities.
“We can also collaborate in forest infrastructure development, especially the improvement of access roads as well as housing for forest rangers because they protect both forests and the tea zones,” said the CCF Alex Lamarkoko officers.
The two CEOs agreed that there was a need for representation of KFS in the NTZDC board which will help in resolving potential conflicts amicably. They also agreed to form a technical committee to review the MOU between the two organisations with the aim of identifying areas of collaboration and streamlining their engagement.
Other officers present during the meeting were the DCCF for Plantation Management, Andrew Soi Project Manager for GZDSP II Jerome Mwanzia, the Ag. Manager for Quality Assurance and Risk Management Benedict Omondi, the CCF’s PA Evans Maneno and the Head of Partnerships Ambrose Genga among other officers.