[Source: Daily Nation, by Brian Wasuna]
Kenya Thursday made a pledge to achieve at least 10 per cent forest cover in the next three years, even as the country struggles with fresh cases of settling in woodlands.
While opening the third annual One Planet Summit, President Uhuru Kenyatta made the vow while also indicating his government has identified the forestry sector as a key investment to hitting its development targets.
Currently, Kenya has a forest cover of seven per cent, which pushed President Kenyatta’s administration to issue a ban on logging as a tree planting campaign proceeds.
The One Planet Summit is an annual gathering of government, corporate and civil society leaders to discuss methods of battling climate change, alongside pledges to embrace clean energy such as wind, geothermal and solar.
The first two editions were held in Paris, France, and New York, United States of America, respectively.
President Kenyatta’s vow came just days after the National Land Commission (NLC) allowed thousands of squatters to settle on a 419 acre piece of land in Karura Forest that has been at the heart of a row with the Kenya Forest Service.
The disputed land row has played out for 23 years.
The vow also came nearly a month after the NLC revealed that hundreds of title deeds relating to grabbed land — including spaces gazetted as forests — are yet to be expunged despite being declared illegal.
President Kenyatta argued that deforestation has hit Kenya hard, as its effects have interfered with economic progress.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Brian Wasuna]
