By Vincent Mabatuk
National Alliance of Community Forest Association (Nacofa) has risen alarm over what they say is uncontrolled felling of trees in Government forests in the Rift Valley.
Speaking in Nakuru town, the group warned there was danger of losing forests if urgent measures are not taken to stop cutting of exotic trees in plantations by big companies.The association named Baringo, Nakuru, Kericho and Elkeiyo- Marakwet counties as the worst affected.
Huge plantations
They said a ban placed on felling of trees in 1994 only affected local saw millers, while the companies went on with their activities.
“We also demand to know why the companies carry away top branches and burn remaining materials, leaving the community with nothing to use as fuel wood or building material”, he said.
They also question why local saw millers get small portions of plantations while private saw millers are allocated thousands of hectares .
They now want stock taken of all cleared areas since the ban was placed and areas planted and survival rate of seedlings.
“Felling of exotic frees in plantations be stopped until formation of county governments or at the time the above measures are put in place to the satisfaction of Kenyans,” they expressed.
