The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) will fence 900 acres of forest land at the Aberdare Forest, Ndaragwa block to allow it to regenerate.
Chief Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau, while challenging other stakeholders such as the community, administration and security agencies to partner with the KFS in efforts to regenerate and preserve the forest said the fencing will be done in patches.
“We are very keen on engaging the forest adjacent communities and training them on how they can help us maintain our plantations.
This includes pruning which has been a challenge due to inadequacy of labour in the service. This will help in creating more mutually beneficial relationships with them and create a sense of ownership,” Kamau added.
The Conservator noted that the residents will be trained on how to better care for the trees and on what implements to use, called for cooperation so that KFS could trade the firewood for labour.
Speaking during the inspection of a portion of the fencing project at the Ndaragwa Forest Station, the National Green Zones Project Manager Jerome Mwanzia said that more spots of forest, stretching to Leshau, were targeted in the project to help in regeneration.
“We are looking to fence off more sections to keep off grazing and other human activity for natural regeneration,” Mwanzia added.
The project also involved the Community Forest Association (CFA) funded by the Green Zones Support Development Project Phase II to erect the fence in the forest.
“We the CFA have greatly benefitted from this effort because it has provided employment opportunities through our involvement. Members of the community have also learned about the importance of regeneration of the forests through the sensitization efforts done through community meetings,” Francis Gathurai the Ndaragwa CFA Chair said.
The Green Zones Development Support Project aims at restoring the degraded areas of the forests, improving livelihoods and food security in the country’s main water towers.
By Rahab Naimutie and Barton Mubea
