Backlash from Kenyans as president lifts tree cutting ban

Although Sunday’s developments were a much waited relief for saw millers and timber merchants, some environmentalists have castigated the move citing that it will cause deforestation and do away with the progress that had been made since the ban was implemented in 2018.
Nevertheless, Ruto said the move was long overdue and was aimed at creating jobs and opening up sectors of the economy that rely on forest products.
“Trees are decaying in the forest and people are struggling to get timber. You see the foolishness? We have lifted the ban so that we can harvest mature trees. Whoever imports furniture will be taxed because we want all that to be made in the country,” said Ruto.
Nevertheless, Ruto said the Government will embark on an a campaign that is aimed at restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded forests and rangelands.
“Over the next 10 years, we shall grow 15 billion trees and restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded forests and rangelands. I appeal to every Kenyan to plant at least 30 trees each year, in order to properly participate in this programme as mandated by the Constitution and contribute to our collective climate action targets,” added Ruto.
However, Elizabeth Wathuti, a Kenyan environmentalist said the idea that loggers will choose old trees and leave young trees was a fallacy.
“Even before the lift of the ban, we have had illegal logging instances. The idea that loggers will choose old trees and leave young trees is a fallacy. It’s usually left to the loggers’ discretion to decide what tree is mature or not. We are likely to lose lots of gains in achieving the 10 percent bare minimum forest cover,” said Wathuti.
In addition Wathuti, said planting trees is a good initiative but cannot single-handedly stop deforestation.
“Planting trees aid in mitigating climate change, but cannot single-handedly reverse it. We must also safeguard ecosystems and stop deforestation that reverse tree growing efforts.” said Wathuti.
“As long as trees survive, they retain carbon within them, and trees can live for extended periods, spanning decades or even centuries. Trees act as natural carbon sinks.” he added.
“Ideas around carbon market, eco-tourism, apiculture, among others, are options we can explore to compensate communities that are custodians of rich forested areas but in 5 to 10 years what will we reflect on the road map of achieving 15 billion trees amidst a growing climate crisis?” posed Wathuti.
“There should be more multi-stakeholder deliberation on the lifting of the logging ban. Even more, there are more risks that logging will have to livelihoods, rivers, wildlife, and our environment, which all affect the economy we are trying to build in the long run,” said Wathuti.
In addition, Dr. Paula Kahumbu, a Kenyan ecologist said it was a sad day for trees in Kenya which will have a massive repercussion on the ecosystem.
“Sad day for trees in Kenya as logging ban is lifted. Kenyans are expressing concerns, how will forests be protected? Planted trees will not deliver ecological, social, cultural and genetic value of old growth forests.
I am in shock, why plant 15 billion trees then allow a free for all on logging. I hope there is sound planning the President’s environmental legacy is short. Let’s protect our native forests fiercely and restore all degraded forests before we try to commercialize use,” said Dr. Kahumbu.