“Prolonged Drought, Charcoal Burning, Logging Ban, Forest Management, Which Way?”

           FORESTRY SOCIETY OF KENYA

         Promoting Professional Forestry in Kenya

Press Release - 1st March, 2018

“Prolonged Drought, Charcoal Burning, Logging Ban, Forest Management, Which Way?”           

    Forestry Society of Kenya (FSK) is a membership organization of professional foresters in Kenya, registered in 1979. As the only forestry professional body in the country, FSK has c ontinued to play pivotal role in the growth and development of the forest sector. 

The last few week, there has being increased discussions and disquietedness on the management of our forests in the country. The Forestry Society of Kenya (FSK) would like to contribute to the raging debate, particularly on the technical aspects, by stating the following;

1.     That we take this opportunity to congratulate the appointment of Mr. Keriako Tobiko as the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The society applauds the effort of the government in addressing the challenges facing the forest sector.

2.     We take cognizant that the country is facing unprecedented serious and acute water crisis. The attribution that deforestation, degradation and encroachment of water towers and other catchment areas, as cause factors for law water levels in rivers and streams cannot be disputed. Other factors such as climate change effects should be considered for long term mitigation.   The drought has affected most countries in the region, with the latest casualty being Cape Town in South Africa.

3.     The society equally appreciate the stress the natural resources particularly the tree resources face in providing the much needed livelihood support especially in the Arid and semiarid regions of this country.  In the recent past the country has witnessed charcoal bans by county governments as a measure of addressing environmental degradation, the society will it support those efforts calls for  a more comprehensive approach in addressing the matter, since the charcoal production provides the last livelihood option to rural communities.

4.     The society recognize the moratorium on logging ban in Kenya and hopes it helps in identifying the challenges and those responsible for it, however past  studies and lessons  has shown  that logging ban has not been an effective way of sustainable forest management in Kenya. We further acknowledge the Four Agendas the government has as part of its transformative plan; however the possibility of affordable housing might be hampered as results of unavailability of timber products.

5.     The society wish to highlight the massive role the water towers and watershed plays in providing a number of ecosystem goods and services that includes water. This point seems to have been lost as we concentrate our debate on 138,000 ha which 6 % of the total forest cover the country is endowed with. We further appreciate the integral role our members has continued to play in ensuring the government generate revenues from plantation forests while implementing professional forestry practices that include zonation and right silvicultural practices. While the drought situation has affected many livelihoods, the causes are more than logging, we wish to highlight other challenges including forest fires, encroachment, overgrazing, over abstraction of water resources and climate change.

6.     As we reiterate our commitment to ensure professionalism in forestry practice with the country, we are calling on the government to provide additional resources to ensure that the sector challenges are addressed comprehensively. We further call on our fellow Kenyans to ensure we continue planting trees and support better management of forestry resources.

7.     The society acknowledge and appreciate the formation of the taskforce on the logging ban, however there is need to have  forestry professionals in the team especially in contributing the technical and science aspects in the assignment. Our members remain available to support government efforts in environmental conservations. We appeal to the taskforce carry out its task objectively, without any malice towards our members. The Society will ensure that its members adhere to professional ethics and are committed to dealing with those abusing the professionalism. Towards this, the society has developed code of ethics and aims to put them together into a professional legislation for purpose of enforcement.

Each Kenyan should play their role in reversing negative trend in environmental conservation. As the society we call upon Kenyans to plant trees during the long rains. Our members drawn in all regions of Kenya will lead Kenyans in tree planting. Our joint effort will lead to a better environment for all.

Dr. Nelson Maara

FSK Secretary