KFS Board Inaugurated
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A Quartely Magazine of the Kenya Forest Service Issue No. 15 : January - June 2015 KFS Board Inaugurated Kenya and Tanzania Sign Pact to Curtail Illegal Movement of Forest Produce Western Regime Tree Planting Kicks Off Forest Rangers Recruited THE FORESTER :: JANUARY -JUNE 2015 1 FROM THE EDITOR In this issue of the Forester Magazine, we cover news and feature stories touching on activities that took place in the last three months and a forecast of activities that will take place within the year. The Service continues in its quest to ensure the security and continuity of our country’s forests as one of its mandates, for- est areas which continue to be subject to various forms of destruc- tion. In conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and the World Bank, the Service also con- tinues to facilitate dialogue and foster cooperation with forest ad- jacent communities for the continued sustainable management of forests. Towards this, a number of Forest Management Agreements have been successfully signed and launched across the country with the latest Plan being launched in Jilore Forest Block, Kilifi County. The Service also continues to implement the Green Schools pro- gramme together with the Ministry of Environment in an initiative geared towards increasing the country’s tree cover as well as as- sisting public schools generate extra income through commercial forestry. Earlier this year, the Service began an exercise involving all County Governments geared towards transferring devolved forestry functions to Counties. Towards this, a number of regional workshops took place in various parts of the country to help kick off the Transitional Implementation Plans (TIPs) as required by the Constitution. We also feature an array of exciting Ecotourism sites and activities in Kenya’s forests, the signing of a Memorandum of Un- derstanding between Kenya Forest Service and the Tanzanian For- est Service towards trade in forest products, marking of the Inter- national Day of Forests among others. For these and more, I welcome you to read and enjoy your copy of the Forester Magazine. Please feel free to give us your feedback regarding the Magazine and any other issues touching on forestry. Happy reading! A bamboo water catchment in Mount Kenya Forest Anne Kaari EDITORIAL TEAM IN THIS ISSUE EDITOR 03 - DIRECTORS FORWARD - Anne Kaari SUB EDITORS 04 - LEAD STORY - Charles Ngunjiri 06 - NEWS ROUND-UP - Leakey Sonkoyo 11 - FEATURES STAFF WRITERS 14 - PICTORIALS - Alfred J. Kinyanjui - Caroline Kahuria 16 - FEATURES - Lydia Ogada 19 - PROJECT NEWS - Michael Muratha 20 - CROSS CUTTING ISSUES - Pamela Gatwiri - Susan Ndethiu 21 - FEATURES - Sylvia Wishenga 22 - COMMENTARY CONTRIBUTORS 23 - STATION PROFILE - Alfred Gichu 25 - SPORTS NEWS - Jerome Mwanzia - Monicah Ruto 26 - FROM THE FILES - Tito Okello 27 - LEISURE - Pauline Mwende 28 - KNOW YOUR TREES DESIGN - [email protected] DISCLAIMER PRINTERS - Wiltech Communication Printers 2 THE FORESTER :: JANUARY - JUNE 2015 WORDWORD FROMFROM THETHE DIRECTORDIRECTOR KFS urges the public to plant trees during the rainy season The country is currently marking the long rains season. This is an opportune time to plant trees and increase the country’s tree cover. The rainy season is also one of the most important in the Kenya Forest Service’s (KFS) calendar because this is when we do most of our plant- ing to offset the backlog in the commercial plantations. It is also a time when tree growers across the country plant trees on their farms for fu- ture commercial purposes. The Service thus takes advantage of the rains to urge Kenyans to plant trees in all suitable areas. Forest officers right up to the Division level are available to offer technical support to farmers on the best tree species and also on the most suitable sites to plant. This year’s National Tree Planting Launch took place in Bungoma County and was presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Prof. Judi Wakhungu. The running theme for this year’s tree planting season is; ‘For a green economy, wakenya tupande miti.’ This theme em- bodies our aspiration as a country to turn our economy into a sustain- able one by growing trees for economic development. As you might be aware, His Excellency the President recently appointed Board Members to fill vacant positions in most of the Para- statals’ Boards of Management. The Board will play a critical role in ex- ecuting several agendas that have been pending. They will also help in formulating policies to guide the Service in executing its mandate in the new Constitutional dispensation which has brought on board devolution of certain functions previously performed by the National Government. Emilio Mugo KFS Acting Director BE THE LUCKY WINNER!!! LETTER TO THE EDITOR Yet again, I would like to take this opportunity to write this special letter KFS will be awarding one lucky winner of the ‘Star Letter’ . to the KFS editorial team and the organization for the good work and Write to us with your comments and queries for a chance to positive strategies towards improving and reviving forest conservation win the below branded merchandise. in our country, especially how you teach farmers essential tools on how to integrate forestry programs that help reforestation in Kenya. Following the letter I received from your Head of Corporate Communi- cations as a response to my first letter, I was able to visit a Forest Station in Nyeri. While there I met committed and passionate Foresters who taught me about tree nursery preparation. I was also impressed to learn about the commitment from the KFS Senior management to the local level in matters concerning the well being of forests. This in turn encour- aged me to start a tree nursery and practice silviculture. I cannot hesitate to congratulate KFS for the fantastic job you’re doing for Kenyans and because of this you are role models to other like minded corporate and individual organizations. Charles Ngari Githaiga Mukurwe-ini Nyeri THE FORESTER :: JANUARY -JUNE 2015 3 LEAD STORY KFS Ag. Director Emilio Mugo (centre right) and Chief Executive Officer Tanzania Forest Service Juma Mgoo (centre left) exchange signed MoU documents on monitoring of Forest Products and Trade at the Kenya-Tanzania border. They are flanked by Principal Secretary State Department of Environment and Natural Resources Dr. Richard Lesiyampe (far right) among other senior Tanzanian Government officials. Kenya and Tanzania Sign Pact to Curtail Illegal Movement of Forest Produce By Michael Muratha tween Tanzania and Kenya has revealed that revenue loss in the two countries could that the trade in forests products between be attributed to undervaluation of forest Trans-boundary illegal trade in tim- the two countries has amounted to a loss of products in recorded data and export docu- ber has underpinned forest conservation and USD 10,000 annually to Kenya. The study has ments against the actual value of products ex- government revenue collection efforts for also revealed that KSh 14 billion is lost from ported. The Forest Law 2000, Forest Act 2005, quite a period of time. In response to this il- under-evaluation of timber and poles, un- Timber Act-Cap 386 and regulations that are legal trade, the Government of the United recorded volumes of timber, illegal charcoal under the administration of Tanzania and Ken- Republic of Tanzania through the Tanzania business, illegal harvesting and selling of logs ya Forest Service exist to provide the overar- Forest Services Agency and the Government across the Kenya Tanzania border. ching framework for such regulations of forest of Kenya through Kenya Forest Service have Speaking during the signing cere- products at the border’s points. agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Un- mony Chief Executive Officer Tanzania Forest The agreement goes further to out- derstanding which they signed recently to Services Juma Mgoo noted that the signed line cooperative measures to help improve help in sustainable forest management and MoU aimed at improving forest management the management of critical forest resources legal trade in forest products. and governance as pertains to trans-boundary in the two countries. The MOU between the The memorandum of understand- trade in forest products. Mgoo went ahead two countries has a great potential to mitigate ing also signed on the basis of the new forest to say that forests in both countries were un- further negative environmental and social im- cooperation agreement is set to improve the der increasing pressure and their degradation pacts of the illegal forest products trade in the effectiveness tactics to tackle the rampant il- threatened to hurt the economies and nega- region. legal logging and timber trade across the bor- tively impact the quality of life for most citi- At the closure of the MOU signing a num- der of this two countries. zens especially those living in rural areas. ber of recommendations were agreed upon In his remarks Kenya Forest Service including strengthening the private sector To grace the signing occasion were various Acting Director Emilio Mugo noted that the capacity for viable timber trade, through in- dignitaries including Principal Secretary State agreement outlined cooperative measures formation sharing between the authorities Department of Environment and Natural Re- to help improve the management of critical and private sector, Kenya Forest Service and sources Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, Acting Direc- forest resources in the two countries. He also Tanzania Forest Services should hold regular tor KFS Emilio Mugo, Chief Executive Officer noted that the MOU was an effort to manage dialogue meetings, laws and regulations on of the Tanzania Forest Services Juma Mgoo forest resources in a more sustainable man- trade of wood and forest products should be among other senior KFS and TFS officials. ner together with Tanzania.