RECLAIMING OUR FORESTS OR MAYBE NOT

I grew up on the slopes of Mt.Kenya in the 1990s when forest coverage faced significant challenges due to various factors such as population growth, agricultural expansion and illegal logging. Back then, it was kind of common seeing lorries full of timber mostly illegal being ferried from the forest.

Data indicates that forest cover decreased from more than 10 per cent in 1963 to less than 1.7 per cent by the early 2000s through deforestation. It was this decrease in forest coverage that led MPs to urge former President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare logging a national disaster. Kenyatta went ahead and banned logging in 2018.

WELCOME TO THE WILD WILD WEST

 "We can't have mature trees rotting in forests while locals suffer due to lack of timber. That's foolishness." These are words said by President Ruto at a church service in Molo recently.

When deputy president Gachagua talked of reintroducing the shamba system which was banned in 2002, many brushed him off. Well, here we are.

THE SHAMBA SYSTEM

In Kiswahili, the word shamba refers to a farm. As the name implies, in the shamba system, farmers cultivate food crops and plantation trees on small pieces of land while tending to the trees until they become established.

The system first appeared during the colonial period. The colonial authorities created the Shamba System to satisfy the need for raw materials for the growing timber industry and lessen pressure on the natural woods. Despite having noble intentions, the shamba system was banned twice—in 1987 and 2003. The main reason for the ban was poor management that led to the loss of natural forests.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

I recently saw a tweet by Dr. David Ndii who’s an advisor to the president saying that there is no need for alarm and people should not beat the alarm drums after pictures circulated on social media from what appeared to be Kinale Forest. Here is the tweet.

While that might be true, the last 3 or so years I have stayed in that same locale and people have experienced the worst drought in these years. Some streams that were not seasonal dried up and even the dam that feeds the whole of this region could not sustain the locals. For the 1st time the locals experienced water rationing.

Back To Logging

Since former president Kenyatta banned logging, Kenya’s forest cover has increased with 5%, helping Kenya to surpass the 10% tree cover. This new directive however will counter all the gains that have been achieved.

While the government maintains that its the commercial forests that the directive is targeting, already illegal logging is taking place. It will be very difficult for the government to monitor the logging since well, this is Kenya and its a man eat man society.

Having come from one of the worst drought in years, the focus should be reclaiming our forests and planting more trees more so since this has been the President’s call whenever he’s abroad. The government however seems to be eating from both sides of the mouth.

Will we be silent and watch as the destruction of our forests continue?

Finally, a friend is working to restore coral reefs and you can be part. Follow the tweet below to learn more.