'It’s forest management, not destruction': Duale clarifies Karura Forest logging claims
The CS in a statement on Friday downplayed concerns by Kenyans on social media saying that the process was part of the government’s effort at forest management.
He argued that the logging exercises were part of Kenya Forest Service's gradual activity of removing mature exotic tree species to create room for the growth of indigenous plantations. According to Duale, the logging is in line with Karura Forest Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP) agreed between the service and the harvesters in this case being Friends of Karura Forest (FKF).
“There are claims on some social media platforms that the ongoing removal of exotic tree species from Karura Forest is forest destruction,” he stated.
“Kenya Forest Service (KFS) would like to assure the public and visitors of Karura Forest that what is going on is a normal plantation management activity which involves harvesting of mature exotic plantation species as per the Karura Forest Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP), which is a legal document developed in collaboration between the KFS and the Community Forest Association (CFA), in this case being Friends of Karura Forest (FKF)."
CS Duale underscored that PFMPF had been in existence for more than six years before it was halted in 2018.
"Karura Forest, being an urban recreational forest, would be reverted back to a purely indigenous forest through gradual removal of exotic plantation tree species that occupy some parts of the forest. This programme in fact began over six years ago but following the 2018 moratorium on logging in public forests, the exercise was stopped,'he said.
"However, following the lifting of the ban on harvesting of mature plantations, KFS has continued with the programme that will eventually see the removal of the exotic species comprising of eucalyptus and cypress in specific areas."
The CS expressed confidence in the exercise, noting that legal procedures for disposing of plantation materials have been followed to the letter.
Among the procedures highlighted by Duale include; inventory of the selected plantations as per the Karura PFMP, bidding and awarding of tenders and clear-felling and removal of plantation material.
He went on to point out that the ministry would follow the process of restoring the forest which includes cleaning up of sites and removal of invasive species, site preparation for replanting, actual planting of indigenous trees, shrubs, and climbers suitable for the ecological zone.
Other processes are aftercare and maintenance, monitoring and evaluation to ensure maximum survival rate and care has been taken to ensure minimal disturbance to the ecosystem and the public.
By Joseph Muia
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