The Kenya Forest Service with the Kenya Timber Manufacturers Association have laid down measures to increase forest cover, KFS director general Emillio Mugo has said.
He spoke in Londiani after concluding a two-day inspection tour of the KFS field activities in Nakuru, Baringo and Kericho. Mugo said the Londiani tree nursery is one of the biggest that have been established in conjunction with the community and other stakeholders.
He said 2.5 million seedlings in Londiani will be distributed in Nakuru, Kericho and Baringo.
Mugo said most of the indigenous tree seedlings will be used to rehabilitated dilapidated forests in the three counties, now that rains are expected. He singled out ravaging drought, overgrazing and constrained resources as among activities affecting forest cover.
Mugo said KFS will take over seedling management in the co-managed seedling bed improve wood quality.
He said TMA and KFS will continue to work together to ensure forest cover is not exhausted. He said it is wise for TMA to continue to invest in seedling production to ensure continuous supply of seedlings.
TMA national chairman Benard Gitau said they have embraced discipline to ensure forests remain stable.
He said as an association, they have had challenges of membership contribution, hence, the few constraints in carrying out their work.
The chairman said next to the bed with 2.5 million seedlings in Londiani, they have been allocated a separate space that will produce 4.5 seedlings next year.
He said TMA members have come to understand that apart from cutting down mature trees, they have an obligation to plant new ones to ensure the required 10 per cent forest cover is realised.