40,000 hectares of Mau forest recovered

By naftal

MORE than 40,000 hectares of Mau forest land that had been destroyed has been rehabilitated by the government. Kenya Water Tower Agency Director Francis Ole Nkako said the government is at an advanced stage of profiling a list of individuals who had genuine title deeds for compensation.

He was speaking on Saturday at Ololulunga in Narok county during the launch of Maasai-Mau Marathon dubbed ‘Race to save the Maasai-Mau forest.’

Nkako was accompanied by UNEP Programme Manager Dr Richard Kaguamba, Kenya Forests Working Group Project Officer Jackson Bambo and Cyrus Kimamo, board member of Green Belt Movement.

“It is worth noting that there has been an increase in the water levels in the Mara River because of concerted efforts by different stakeholders in restoring the Mau ecosystem,”  he said.

He said the agency has carried out several sensitisation meetings with the locals on the need to take control and co-ordinate conservation efforts in their areas.

Nkako said the agency in collaboration with the Narok county government has begun introducing bamboo trees to farmers to deter them from destroying forest trees.

He revealed that over 10,000 title deeds have been voluntarily surrendered by those who had invaded the forest. Bambo said several Community Based Integrated Forest Resource Conservation and Management projects have been implemented with the aim of facilitating, creating and strengthening institutions and management structures.

“The government of Spain through UNEP has funded KFWG in creating a favourable environment for policy and forest law implementation. It has also helped managers of Mau forest and local communities to shift from unsustainable land management practices in around the Maasai-Mau forest,” said Bambo.

He said the marathon was used to raise awareness on issues surrounding Maasai-Mau forest conservation efforts. The event was for participants to acknowledge the role the local communities adjacent to the forest can play in ensuring the well-being of the larger Mau ecosystem