Forest climate action must be for and by people

Kakamega Forest. Locals earn at least Sh100 million yearly from illegal activities such as charcoal burning and poaching. [File, Standard]

Last week has seen focus on tropical forests at a time push to phase out fossil fuel projects to tame climate crisis, has been prominent.

Yet, forest loss is equally to blame for global warming, besides being a substantial contributor to biodiversity loss and pollution.

According to Global Forest Watch, Kakamega County lost 2.95 thousand hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2021. Up to 47 per cent of this was from loss of humid primary forest. This touches Kenya's only tropical rainforest - the Kakamega Forest, the lung of Lake Victoria, and which breathes in dirty air and out clean oxygen for an ungrateful people.

My generation (touching 20th and 21st centuries) understood "kuzuia mmomonyoko wa udongo" and nurturing trees as moral duty, championed by President Daniel Moi. The culture and key messages were passed in songs at public holidays or the national broadcaster. Calamities claiming masses were rare, even though the Mau water tower, Kakamega Forest and many were encroached for tea farming.

This same generation watched predictable rain patterns change and farmers blame it on God's anger. Politicians have been lauded for disinforming supporters, saying rain comes from heaven, not trees. Still in our lifetime, rivers have retraced their long lost courses, and loose land caused landslides sweeping villages in horrific scenes suggesting nature's revenge.

While clearing forests, many ignore the fact that carbon previously held by trees is released back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Since those responsible for forest loss include indigenous communities, mostly motivated by diminishing sources of livelihood, inclusivity and information sharing on forests benefits can help encourage forest climate action.

There is opportunity for vernacular FM stations, a most reliable source of information for people in rural areas, to partner with not-for-profit organisations and create awareness on forest restoration as a means to climate action.

The FM stations must also promote personal responsibility and sanctity of such forests, establishing and bringing to fore how local communities initially lived responsibly with the natural resources. The forests are foreign exchange-earners. A tourist or researcher at Kakamega Forest directly benefits local economy by eating and sleeping in their hotels; which get supplies from local farmers. They are likely to pay local tour guides.

According to UNESCO, Kakamega Forest earns locals at least Sh100 million yearly, though including from illegal activities such as charcoal burning and poaching. The forest is a biodiversity hotspot with flora and fauna ranging from rare monkeys, snakes, birds, butterflies and indigenous trees, which need protection. Isiukhu and Yala rivers heavily rely on the forest that is also a custodian of culture.

Besides creating awareness on forest loss prevention, increasing options of sources of livelihood will reduce destruction by locals. The county government must triple efforts to end appetite for charcoal burning or felling precious trees for expensive timber.

Besides understanding benefits of the tropical rainforest, local communities need money in their hands, something the government must work on fast. Women and youth must be actively involved in forest restoration, not just as flower girls and spectators, but as contributors and sharers of benefits.

Simply put, restoring Kakamega Forest needs everyone. It is a huge carbon sink that will greatly mitigate climate change. With President Ruto's renewed political and financial commitment towards climate action, the country must also increase implementation.

Meanwhile, fossil fuel firms and other major polluters should spare funds to save Kakamega tropical rainforest as part of their adherence to Polluter Pays Principle.

[email protected] | @lynno16