Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has revealed the government's plan to protect forest plantation following the lift on logging ban.
Speaking on Thursday, Tuya said the government has only given a go ahead on the harvesting of 5,000 hectares.
This is in line with the guidance from the Auditor General and the established sustainable harvesting and replanting capacity of the Kenya Forest Service.
Tuya noted that this is also put in place to enable the forest-adjacent communities to engage in non-residential food production as they assist in the re-establishment of plantation tree crops.
The lifting of the logging ban was done following recommendation by a multi–agency task force which carried out an inventory of forest plantations between 2020 and 2022.
The task force also oversaw the e-registration of saw-millers, leading to the pre-qualification of applicants into various categories based on respective capacities.
Following this, the government incorporated the communities living near forests into the arrangement.
These communities are only allowed to takeaway tree tops and branches for domestic fuel wood or sale as firewood while licensees are allowed to take the main log.
Further, the communities are also allowed to farm where trees have been harvested. This is part of the plantation establishment programme.
These people get assistance from the Kenya Forest Service which engages the CFAs in seedling production, planting and weeding.
As part of the forest protection programme, the CFAs will provide scouts to ensure that encroachment and other illegal activities are not done.
Tuya noted that KFS uses the ‘allowable cutting levels’ principle which states that the number of trees to be removed annually should be equal to the number of trees to be planted in the same period.
"This is achieved through the implementation of the felling and work plans as well as other forest management protocols," she added.
Further, all payments to KFS including taxes are automated to ensure compliance with government tax regulations.
Tuya said all payments must be made before the licensee embarks on harvesting.
The CS added that the ministry has put in place a detailed harvesting security plan on the access, control, and supervision of actual harvesting and reporting.
"As part of the plan, an Entry Certificate is presented to the Forest Station Manager before the removal of any plantation forest material," she said.
During the felling process, the forest manager is tasked with ensuring that licensees adhere to the provisions of their licences.
The manager is expected to issue an Exit Certificate, upon completion of the felling activity, as evidence of compliance with the harvesting protocol.
As part of the chain of custody, the forest manager marks each harvested log before it exits the forest.
"The mark is specific to the station where the logs have been harvested."
CS Tuya said anyone found guilty of flouting the aforementioned protocols will be dealt with.
This include KFS officials that fail to enforce established procedures.
