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Who will save our natural
heritage ?
KENYA / Saturday, February 17, 2001
- THE announcement that the Government has decided to excise more
than 167,000 acres of forest land in various parts of the country
is extremely shocking and a cause for grave worry.
Already, indigenous forests are in
danger of extinction in most parts of the country. And the
effects are being felt in changed weather patterns, dwindling
rainfall, creeping desertification and loss of top soil in
enormous quantities due to erosion when it does rain.
Those forests still surviving are
threatened by loggers and charcoal-burners, if not by those
individuals “allocated” such lands for whatever reason.
It is astonishing that the
Government, which keeps decrying the wanton destruction of
forests, should be the main culprit in the affair. For what
purpose would it excise so many thousands of acres of forest land,
especially now that foliage has started growing again after a
two-year drought?
It appears the Government never
learnt a lesson from the prolonged drought when most rivers dried
up and it had to resort to power rationing for almost a year. It
also appears those who run the Ministry of Environment and Natural
Resources have no idea about the connection between deforestation
and rainfall patterns, or what a water catchment is supposed to be.
Could the ministry that is supposed
to conserve the environment and natural resources have confused
its role and consider allocation and destruction of the flora and
fauna to be its primary duties?
Ironically, on the same day as the
Government’s intention was being announced, Central Provincial
Commissioner Peter Kiilu was banning farming of any sort on the Mt
Kenya and Aberdares forests, saying those forests were in danger
of extinction.
Let us get something straight here.
Environment Minister Francis Nyenze did not indicate why he wants
the forest land excised. He did not say to whom this land will be
allocated. These two things he must do, even if nothing at all can
convince Kenyans of the wisdom of such drastic action.
The Karura Forest saga is still
fresh in our minds. Many more important forests have been grabbed
over the years, mainly by “developers” who do not need extra
land in the first place. This means our heritage, if not our sheer
existence, are under severe threat. Ordinarily, we ought to appeal
to the Government. Now to whom will Kenyans appeal?
SOURCE: Editorial DAILY NATION
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THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE, TO
WHOM THE STEWARDSHIP FOR THE MOUNT KENYA FORESTS WERE TRANFERED
LAST YEAR, CLAIMED TODAY THAT KWS WAS NOT EVEN INFORMED OR
CONSULTED IN THE MATTER.
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Govt gazettes excision of 13
forests
By Biketi Kikechi
KENYA/17.Feb.2001- THE Government
yesterday advertised a notice of alteration of forest boundaries
in Rift Valley and Central provinces. The alteration covers an
area of 67,784.49 hectares (about 338,000 acres) in 13 forest
areas.
However, various groups yesterday
demanded that the Government cancels the allocation of prime
forest land which has been advertised in the current Kenya Gazette
notice.
In a statement, the Green Belt Movement said the allocation will
have a serious negative impact on the rain pattern, the ecosystem
and the flora and fauna of the affected forests.
According to the Kenya Gazette
notice, 35,301.01 hectares have been degazetted from the Eastern
Mau Forest some seven kilometres south of Njoro township in Nakuru
District.
Also excised are 24,109.01 hectares
of the South-Western and Western Mau forests. Out of 22,797.19
hectares are in South-Western and the remaining 715.5 in Western
Mau Forest. The area lies 16 kilometres East of Kericho Town.
While protesting the allocation of
Mau Forest, leaders of the Ogiek Welfare Council said the excision
defeats justice as they have cases pending in court over the
matter.
They said the de-gazettement will
deny the Ogiek rights to the land since they live in the forest.
They said the settlement of other people will bring tension in the
area.
“We are witnessing the final onslaught on the Ogiek as an
indigenous community. We will not allow this to continue because
the colonial government left us in that forest,” said their
chairman, Mr Joseph Kimaiyo Towett.
In the gazette notice, 323.7
hectares of Western Mau Forest in Kericho District, have also been
excised.
Another 270.5 have been excised in Nakuru Forest within Nakuru
Municipality. Also gazetted is the allocation to Soliat Primary
School of 37.89 of Nabkoi Forest in Uasin Gishu District and 36.22
to Ainabkoi Secondary School about 10.5 Km North of Timboroa
township.
In Marmanet Forest, Laikipia
District, approximately 2,837.4 hectares have also been degazatted
by the Minister for Environment, Mr Francis Nyenze. In Central
Province, 717.0 hectares have been allocated from Mt Kenya Forest.
Boundaries have been delineated and marked in red.
Other forests allocated in Rift
Valley Province include 124.9 hectares of Londiani Forest along
the Eldoret-Nakuru road, 788.30 hectares of the Northern Tinderet
Forest in Nandi and 10.93 hectares of the South Nandi Forest. Also
allocated 901 hectares of Molo Forest near Elburgon township.
All allocations are dated February
1 and the gazettement takes effect after a 28-day notice.
SOURCE: EA Standard
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attn.: Mr. W.Ch.Tuyia - Ogiek Support Group
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