KFS sign agreement with Meru CFAs to aid forests conservation, transform lives
By Gerald Mukembu
The Kenya Forest Service has signed an agreement with three Meru based Community Forest Associations (CFA) aimed at forest conservation and transformation of lives.
KFS on Thursday signed the participatory Management Plans with Ngaya, Nyambene and Ruthumbi CFAs which will guide members of the community on how to exploit forest resources sustainably while promoting conservation of the ecosystem.
They will now be allowed to farm, bee keeping, fetching firewood, fish farming among others.
Greens Zones Project Manager Mwanzia Jerome said Meru has a culture of planting trees and Green zones which is funded by African Development Bank recommends and champions for conservation.
He said that taking care on the environment by planting trees is the only avenue to end floodings and droughts frequently experienced in the Country.
Speaking at Ruthumbi KFS station, Deputy Chief Forests Conservator Beatrice Mbula said their partnership will help curb deforestation and degradation.
“We doing resource mobilization where CFAs have to benefit to transform their lives. We anticipate the signing will enhance both conservation and livelihood improvement. We must chase away poverty where CFA drive development in the villages. We have influential and life transforming CFAs with examples of Ngare Ndare and Njukiri Karura which have changed community lives. Some have even given scholaships to learners. The Forest management agreement with user right ranging upto 18 will benefit many residents,” Mbula said.
Welington Dakar, the Meru County Forest Conservator lauded their partnership with Njuri Ncheke elders in putting measures that aim at conserving the forest cover.
He revealed that KFS has restored 400 hectares through Ngaya CFA, 800 hectares in Nyambene and 2000 hectares in both lower and upper Imenti Forest.
“We have reduced forest destruction to below one percent. We have planted millions of seedlings this financial year and we have enough seedlings to continue with the process. We target to plant 7M seedlings per year. Currently Meru boosts of 29 per cent forest cover,” he said.
