The ban on logging in public and community forests will continue but shall be modified to allow for harvesting and disposal of mature and over mature forest plantations, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has announced.
In statement sent to newsrooms on Monday, November 23, Cabinet Secretary (CS) Keriako Tobiko says allowing for harvesting of these forest plantations will be limited to an area not exceeding 5,000 hectares.
According to CS Tobiko, decision to partially allow logging was met after considering recomendations of both the Board of Management of the Kenya Forest Service and the Multi Agency Team on Mapping, Verification and Valuation of Mature and Over Mature Forest Plantations.
“The harvesting and disposal of the forest plantation materials shall be oversighted by a Multi-Agency Team and done in a manner that is open, transparent, accountable and ensures value for money,” reads the statement from the Ministry.
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The details and particulars of the forest areas to be harvested and the terms and conditions applicable, including the replanting conditions, shall be communicated soon.
Logging and extraction of timber was was banned for 90 days in February 24, 2018 before been extended to November 24. On November 24, the government further extended the ban for a year, in what they said is “to facilitate reforms in forestry.”
The government has reportedly lost over Sh20 billion in revenue because of the ban.
