State raises alarm over rise in illegal grazing at public forests

The Ministry of Environment has raised concern over the increase of illegal grazing in public forests saying it is undermining the progress it has made towards the 15 billion national tree growing target.

To curb destruction of the forest trees and seedlings that have been planted in the recent past, Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya directed the Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko to ensure that established rules and regulations on the grazing and grass harvesting in public forests are fully implemented.

Adjacent to forests

Tuya further said her Ministry shall only engage with duly registered communities adjacent to forests by the Community Forests Associations (CFAs) through negotiated participatory forests management plans and forest management agreements.

She cited the 2016 Forest Conservation and Management Act that provides for participation of local community in the management of gazetted forests noting that it confers certain rights to forest adjacent communities which include controlled grass harvesting and grazing.

“The Ministry working with partners is deploying technology to enhance forest surveillance, hasten delineation of boundaries and expanding the fence program to cover all gazette public forests,” CS Tuya said.