Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has explained how the government is planning to restore and transform Karura Forest.
Amid concerns of serious logging, Duale made a visit to the forest, where he thereafter explained the government’s policies.
“The government is deeply committed to restoring Karura Forest Reserve and other green spaces into thriving and sustainable indigenous upland forests, a vision championed by the late patron, Prof. Wangari Maathai.
“Guided by the Karura Participatory Forest Management Plan (KPFMP), adopted in 2018, this effort takes a phased and scientific approach to transform Karura into a conservation forest that balances biodiversity and public utility,” Duale said after his visit on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
The CS explained what the ongoing actions at Karura Forest entail, and one of them is what he called the gradual removal of exotic plantations.
“For years, Karura has been dominated by 70 per cent plantation tree cover, mostly cypress and eucalyptus, planted for commercial purposes.
“To restore ecological balance, we are implementing a clear-felling strategy to gradually remove these species, minimizing disruptions to wildlife and public activities,” he said.
Indigenous species
He also said replanting indigenous species is a priority exercise at Karura Forest.
“Annually, five hectares of felled plantations are replanted with native trees that will never require harvesting. These species enhance biodiversity and ensure Karura’s long-term ecological integrity,” the former Defence CS added.
He stated that the collaborative restoration efforts are a joint initiative by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) that sets to honour Maathai’s dream of a flourishing forest that supports biodiversity, mitigates climate change, and provides a serene retreat for Nairobi residents.
“We urge the public to bear with us during this process. Restoring Karura is a labor of love that requires time, patience, and careful stewardship,” he concluded.
KFS were also forced to release a statement explaining the ongoing activities at Karura Forest.
