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Tree cutting an environmental calamity
Open letter to The Editor, Nation Newspapers.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Dear Sir,
I have just spent a couple of days around Kibwezi and Masongaleni and was truly shocked to see the changes in the environment and the extent of degradation that has occurred over the last few years. There is an extraordinary amount of tree-felling and charcoal production going on in the area. Even such species as Euphorbia are being used. Many Other trees, such as Baobab, which are not ‘economically valuable,' are being damaged or destroyed.
My NGO has a project site here, that was given on a free-leasehold for establishment of a school for orphans and handicapped children. The property, situated atop a gentle rise, boasted thick bush and many huge indigenous trees. Even on this land, which is supposed to be protected by the tenants - I counted 14 big charcoal-burning sites and all the large trees have been felled!!
By my estimation - the entire area is heading rapidly towards a semi dessert condition and it is critically urgent that something be done about it. I think it is true to say that the situation here is representative of the Nation in general.
If people on the ground do not see or understand the importance of trees, or are too caught in dire financial straights to care or even have options in this regard - I think it is time for an enlightened Government to step in.
There are several things I see as necessary for the prosperity, no - let’s say the very viability and sustainability of Kenya or any country. These are:
1) To make a very serious effort to curb population growth regardless of unpopularity. Virtually ALL the country's land, feeding, education, wildlife, and other problems revolve irrevocably and directly around this issue. Any good farmer can estimate the carrying capacity of his land. What is the sustainable carrying capacity of Kenya (or parts thereof) - and has it been reached or exceeded?
2) Following from the above - certain types of land can only sustain certain kinds of agricultural or subsistence endeavours and methods of farming. These should be known, practised and even stipulated and enforced. On marginal arid lands it is simply not right to expect people to be able to eke out a living on tiny small-holdings without help. If the Government has or intends to settle people in these areas - it must keep in mind the abilities of the land to sustain a calculated population - and plan for ensuing eventualities.
3) Trees, as we are hearing more and more these days, are recognised as the ‘lungs’ and rain-attractors of the environment. A tree on my personal property will effect the atmosphere in a wide region well beyond my boundaries - bringing benefits to neighbours and even people far away.
For this reason I believe that there should be no such thing as “ownership” of trees! They should and do belong to the common wealth of a country and the World at large. I believe that land owners who have trees on their land should be looked on as custodians or trustees of these trees for our children and the common good.
Therefore I believe that no-one should be free to cut a tree simply because they find it on “their” land. Cutting of any tree ought to require some kind of permit from some kind of intelligent environmental management body. Any enlightened community, you would think, would naturally institute such self-regulating arrangements. In earlier societies here and all over the world, these mechanisms existed. People understood the inter-connectedness of everything and the elders took care of such things. With the erosion of this mentality and of true community cohesiveness and its replacement with one of personal gain and fragmentation - this has been lost. I believe our very survival depends on re-establishing such mechanisms - preferably through wisdom and understanding at a grass-roots level, but, if not, and in the interim - through intervention by ‘the authorities.’
Of course - this is where we, especially in Kenya, could come into serious difficulty and possible abuse. But I think it not impossible to achieve and a necessary goal for any kind of elegant future..
Trees take a long time to grow. They are absolutely critical, central, necessary, and indispensable for a healthy environment. They attract rain, hold the soil, produce oxygen - things that effect everyone and all business enterprises. They also provide countless other useful services and products. Wherever they are they are our common heritage and responsibility and we must change our attitude towards them in a big hurry if we are to avert very serious, real, imminent and possibly irrevocable calamity!
Yours sincerely
Oscar Mann
Director,
Council for Human Ecology, Kenya
Box 20360, Tel: 882123, Nairobi.
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