The Kenya Forest Service is in the process of procuring drones to boost surveillance of public forests.
KFS chief conservator Julius Kamau said the drones would help to detect illegal activities as well as fires which may destroy vegetation.
Kamau said human activities such as fires destroy a lot of vegetation during the dry and prolonged hot seasons since fire frames spreads very fast.
“The service remains alert and prepared for the prolonged hot and dry season,” he said.
Kamau spoke Monday when he led the agency to receive a consignment of forest firefighting equipment worth Sh2.5 million through its partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization to support the conservation and management of Kirisia/Leroghi forest reserve in Samburu county.
The conservancy is about 91,452 hectares.
FAO was led by its assistant country representative Hamisi Williams to hand over the equipment.
Kamau was accompanied by his deputies Peter Waweru and Alex Lemarkoko and the head of participatory forest management Ann Itubo, among other departmental heads.
Hamisi said that, through the partnership, two security watch-towers have already been installed, aiding in the surveillance and early detection of the forest.
He also said the project has supported the establishment of two outposts within the forest in Naramat and Nkaaro to enhance forest protection by working jointly with community scouts.
Kamau applauded the FAO partnership since they have been able to enlighten the communities living near the forest and they have participated in forest conservation.
He said more than 30,000 hectares of the forest had been encroached and degraded but after sensitisation, the community vacated.
The chief conservator added the community formed Naramat Community Forest Association and are now reaping benefits from such a tree nurseries to enhance livelihood.
Clement Mwaura, an environmentalist, lauded the KFS for partnering with local and international organisations, individuals as well as state departments so as to educate, replant and protect the forest and environment.
Mwaura said that surpassing of 10 per cent target of forest by 2022 to attain 12.3 cent was through partnership and trust. He said the forest cover was at 6.1 per cent in 2015.
“This is not a joke, the KFS partnerships with different entities have had some impact. We support what they are doing so as to conserve the environment because of future generations,” Mwaura, who is the secretary of Light Environment for the Youth, said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
