The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) on Friday, November 22, clarified reports about ongoing logging at Karura Forest amid public uproar.
In a statement shared by Environment CS Aden Duale, KFS dismissed claims that the ongoing exercise of logging exotic trees amounts to forest destruction.
“There are claims on some social media platforms that the ongoing removal of exotic tree species from Karura Forest is forest destruction. This cannot be further from the truth,” the statement read in part.
The statement came following the circulation of several videos on social media throughout the week, showing individuals logging trees in Karura Forest.
Aden Duale clarifies logging reports in Karura Forest
The logging activity has sparked a heated debate across various social media platforms, with the majority of Kenyans opposing the exercise.
However, KFS assured the public that the ongoing exercise of removing exotic species from Karura Forest is a normal plantation management activity involving harvesting mature exotic plantation species as per the Karura Forest Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP), a legal document developed in collaboration between the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Community Forest Association (CFA), in this case, Friends of Karura Forest (FKF).
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The Service added that according to the PFMP, Karura Forest, being an urban recreational forest, would be reverted back to a purely indigenous forest by gradually removing exotic plantation tree species that occupy some parts of the forest.
“This program began over six years ago but following the 2018 moratorium on logging in public forests, the exercise was stopped,” KFS explained.
“However, following the lifting of the ban on harvesting of mature plantations, KFS has continued with the program that will eventually see the removal of the exotic species comprising of eucalyptus and cypress in specific areas.”
At the same time, the KFS assured that he procedures of disposing of plantation materials have been followed to the latter as laid in the law.
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Environment CS assures the public minimal disturbance to the ecosystem
According to the statement, the procedure includes;
- Inventory of the selected plantations as per the Karura PFMP.
- Bidding and awarding of tenders.
- Clear-felling and removal of plantation material.
On the other hand, the process of replanting and restoring the harvested sites will include:
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- Sites clean up and removal of invasive species.
- Site preparation for replanting.
- Actual planting of indigenous trees, shrubs and climbers suitable for the ecological zone.
- Aftercare and maintenance.
- Monitoring and evaluation to ensure maximum survival rate.
Further, KFS assured the public that care has been taken to ensure minimal disturbance to the ecosystem and the public.
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