Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has launched five Participatory Forest Management Plans with different communities in Nakuru in its bid to conserve the natural resources in the area.
The Service also signed five Forest Management Agreements with the Community Forest Associations namely Logoman, Kiptunga, Menengai, Bahati and Dundori Forests in Nakuru County.
Logoman and Kiptunga are some of the 22 forest blocks that make up the enormous Mau Forest Complex while Menengai, Dundori and Bahati forests are all in Nakuru North.
KFS Chief Conservator of Forest, Alex Lemarkoko said the management plans empower communities living in close proximity to forests, to take ownership and responsibility for their well-being.
In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Beatrice Mbula during the launch at the Mau Area Regional Forest Conservation office in Nakuru, Lemarkoko said protection and management could not be entrusted solely to governments or external organisations.
He said the responsibility of protection and conservation of the water tower could be fully achieved by KFS when it collectively works together with the communities living adjacent to the forest.
“The PFMPs’ launch and signing of FMAs is a beacon of hope in our mission to conserve forests and improve livelihoods,” said Lemarkoko.
He said the five initiatives were testaments to the power of collaboration, cooperation, and collective action.
“It is a bridge that connects government agencies, non-governmental organisations, local leaders, and community members, all working together with a shared purpose to protect and sustainably manage our forests,” he said.
Partners who helped in formulating and publication of the 10 documents include the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Greenbelt Movement among others.
Lemarkoko said the forest management plans and agreements placed the local communities at the heart of conservation adding that their insights, traditional knowledge, and stewardship were invaluable in ensuring the longevity of forests.
“The inclusion of local communities in decision-making processes related to forest management not only safeguards the forests but also creates a win-win situation,” he said.
Lemarkoko noted that Mau is a renowned water tower that plays a pivotal role in the country’s environmental and ecological balance, especially in water resource management.
He observed that communities were guardians of forests which are precious ecosystems and promised that they would reap the benefits in the form of improved livelihoods, sustainable income opportunities, and a healthier environment for their children and future generations.
He called upon stakeholders to help in the development of PFMPs in Eburu, Sururu, Likia, Baraget, Saino, Mariashoni and Molo Forest Stations.
