Kenya’s forests are at significant risk following the government’s lifting of a logging moratorium, leading to extensive deforestation. Activists voice concerns over development projects threatening various key forests, including Karura and Oloolua. Reports indicate severe tree loss and illegal land appropriation, highlighting a need for urgent environmental action and protection.
Following the Kenyan government’s controversial decision to lift a six-year moratorium on logging in public and community forests in July 2023, environmental activists express deep concern over the consequent rapid deforestation. Despite the nation’s already low forest cover, set at only 8.8 percent, the resumption of logging has led to visible transport of logs along major highways, highlighting a potential environmental crisis.
Kenya contains 1,100 species of native trees, of which approximately 10 percent risk extinction. Auma Lynn Onyango, a prominent environmentalist, underscores the incongruence of the government’s actions, noting that the country hosted the first Africa Climate Summit just months after lifting the moratorium intended to stem deforestation.
This urgent situation has prompted alarming statistics; according to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), around six million eucalyptus trees were felled within six months in 2024, primarily for timber exports to China and India. Such deforestation amounts to the loss of five Karura forests, greatly compounding environmental degradation.
Recent reports indicate a consistent decline in Kenya’s forest cover, falling below the constitutionally mandated 10 percent. Activists emphasize that as development projects proceed, forests and their vital ecosystems are endangered, putting the nation at risk in the face of climate change.
As Kenya prepares to host the upcoming Africa Climate Summit in 2025, concerns grow for vital areas such as Karura Forest. Other forested regions are also at risk, including Suam Forest, Aberdare Forest, and Oloolua Forest, as development projects are earmarked for construction at the expense of ecosystems.
Specific plans include allocating 50 acres of Suam Forest for a border project and proposals to sell off sections of Aberdare Forest. Additionally, there are intentions to expand roads through areas under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status, though some of these developments have faced legal injunctions for environmental protection.
Job Kamau, an activist, highlights suspicious activities in Karura Forest, where logging occurred under the pretense of forest rejuvenation, yet no replanting efforts have been observed. Community members in Oloolua Forest have similarly raised alarms regarding illegal land grabbing and unauthorized developments, which officials have largely ignored or downplayed.
Despite public outcry over illegal land appropriation within forest areas, relevant authorities have shown little accountability for issued land titles and permits. Kimeli Winston, a conservationist, remarks on the increasing appetite of government officials for land, further straining communal resources and public lands reserved for essential community facilities.
Statistics from Global Forest Watch indicate that between 2001 and 2023, Kenya has suffered significant tree cover losses, contributing to fears that, without immediate intervention, the remaining forests may soon exist only in historical records.
The situation facing Kenya’s forests is dire, marked by rapid deforestation following the lifting of the logging moratorium and development projects threatening vital ecosystems. Activists contend that the government’s priority for development over environmental protection jeopardizes the country’s natural resources and its commitments to climate change efforts. As illegal activities continue to proliferate, community advocates urge for accountability and a commitment to safeguarding Kenya’s forest heritage.
Original Source: www.globalissues.org
