KFS introduces tough measures to curb illegal grazing of livestock in protected forests

The Kenya Forest Service has introduced tough measures to curb illegal grazing of livestock. 

This comes after Environment CS Soipan Tuya on May 13, announced that the state will not allow the grazing of animals in public forests as part of measures to protect seedlings planted in the ongoing national tree-growing campaign.

“Grazing of animals in the forests has been banned with immediate effect in line with government policy. We cannot be planting trees in degraded areas of public forests then the livestock come and clear them again,” she said.

The CS urged Kenyans to cooperate with the KFS in ensuring the order is adhered to so that the country can realise its tree planting agenda.

Tuya stressed the importance of sustainability in the government’s campaign to attain 15 billion by 2032 and increase the country's forest cover from the current 12.3 percent to 30 percent.

The CS made the remarks during a tree planting exercise at Kona Baridi at Ngong Hills in Kajiado county.

Following the directive, chief conservator of forests Alex Lemarkoko has outlined new guidelines.

Lemarkoko says forest zonation and mapping will be done to identify designated forest areas suitable for grazing, as prescribed in the Participatory Management Plans with respect to the forest station. 

“Grazing is prohibited in plantation areas less than four years old, areas set aside for rehabilitation through natural regeneration, and areas set aside for treatment of natural regeneration,” he said.

KFS protects 6.4 million acres of gazetted forests and another 420 million acres under counties.

Grazing will not be allowed in ecologically sensitive areas, including natural springs, swamps and river sources. 

Each forest station will maintain a grazing register indicating locality, name of grazer, national identity card number, number of animals by type, receipt number, and date of payment.

“The number of animals allowed to graze in a designated grazing area will be determined by the Forest Station Manager based on the land carrying capacity. All grazers must obtain a monthly grazing permit before grazing commences. Implementation of grazing will be done by CFA management Committee under the supervision of the Forest Station Manager,” Lemarkoko said.

The conservator added that no animals are allowed in the forest at night, between 7pm and 6am.

This means that no cattle enclosures or makeshift structures are permitted within the forest.

Grazers going against the new guidelines will lose any unclaimed animal that may have been arrested for being in the forest illegally.

Further, KFS may withdraw rights of a grazer user group that breaches the outlined terms and conditions.

“Any grazer who flouts the guidelines will lose the right to graze in the forest, be prosecuted, or both.”

Lemarkoko said the Service will henceforth renew efforts to enforce the guidelines to ensure official grazing is well understood and implemented to wipe out cases of illegal grazing, which has raised concerns in the recent past.

The Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016 provides for the participation of duly registered Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in the conservation and management of public forests.

This is highlighted under Section 48(2) of the Act.

The participation of the people is in line with the Constitution of Kenya’s 2010 national values and principles of governance. 

Further, Section 49(1)(b) provides that a CFA granted permission to participate in the management or conservation of a forest in accordance with the provisions of the Act shall, among other obligations, formulate and implement sustainable forest programmes that shall be consistent with the traditional user rights of the respective community.

Grass harvesting and grazing, as outlined in Section 49(2)(d) a] is one of the user rights conferred on the community.