This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On July 19, 2019, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) took a significant step in combating illegal logging by interdicting four officers in Makueni County. The officers, including the Ecosystem Conservator, County Enforcement Commander, Forest Station Manager, and a Corporal, were found guilty of failing to prevent the illegal cutting of trees in the South Mbooni Forest Block (Kivale).
The KFS has also deployed a rapid response unit to the forest to crack down on perpetrators of forest destruction. This move is part of the government's efforts to achieve at least 10 per cent forest cover by 2030, a key measure to mitigate climate change.
Chief Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau has assured the public that the agency will not tolerate individuals who seek to tarnish its image. He commended the community in Mbooni for practicing on-farm tree planting and promoting forest conservation by being vigilant against threats affecting forests.
Illegal logging poses a significant setback to the government's plan to increase forest cover. To address this, the government has announced plans to employ the services of the National Youth Service and the KFS in an aggressive replanting of indigenous trees for at least three years.
