After the government lifted a 6-year ban on logging in gazetted forests, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has assured that new trees will be planted in areas where harvesting has been done.
According to KFS, the plan aims at harvesting a maximum of 5,000 hectares per year to ensure government profits from the investments in Forest Plantations.
It says the lifting of the ban was informed by an inventory of forest plantations undertaken by a Multi–Agency Taskforce to confirm available stocks.
KFS stated that they have already put in place a deliberate structure on how the process will be conducted, starting with issuing plantation harvesting licenses to saw millers and interested parties.
“KFS has automated the process of issuance of plantation harvesting licenses which will now be done through the County Forest Conservators. Payment of taxes has also been automated to ensure compliance with Government tax regulations,” read part of the statement on Twitter.
“A detailed harvesting security plan on access, control and supervision of actual harvesting and reporting has been put in place. As part of the plan, entry Certificates are presented to Forest Station Managers before removal of any forest produce.”
Upon completion of the felling and withdrawal of materials, KFS added, individuals will be issued with exit certificates which will serve as evidence of compliance with all requirements.
The forest service also clarified that only mature trees will be harvested, noting that exotic species have a rotation period of 25 to 30 years after which if they are not harvested, they begin to rot.
An e-registration of saw millers has also been undertaken to provide room for the prequalification of applicants into various categories based on respective capacities.
Reforestation will take place in areas where harvesting will be undertaken.
While lifting the ban on logging, President Ruto said that the move will create jobs for both youths and businesses and is in line with the government’s plan to plant 15 billion trees in ten years.
“Sasa miti inaoza huku kwa msitu na watu wanahangaika pande hii hawana mbao, hii maneno yote tumeondoa na tumesema tutafanya na mpango,” he said during an address in Molo on June 2.
The moratorium, which was in effect since 2018, was imposed in response to public outrage over illegal logging, which environmentalists blamed for Kenya’s dwindling forest cover as well as damage to the country’s water towers.
