Environment Ministry to pursue Forest Bill

The Ministry of Environment will continue to spearhead policy issues and assist the Kenya Forestry Service in every possible way to achieve its mandate, this is according to Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu.

Among the important matters that the ministry is currently pursuing is the Forest Bill, which once enacted, will replace the current forestry legislation.

The Bill is designed to cater for present realities in the sector including the role of county governments in the management and development of forestry.

According to the Environment CS, the process of developing this legislation is now at its final stages.

“The Bill has been read in the National Assembly for the second time and is awaiting debate and hopefully enactment when the House reconvenes in the New Year,” said Wakhungu.  “Once passed, the new forestry laws will bring major positive changes to the management of forests in the country with clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders in the sector.”

The Kenya Forestry Service will have a clear cut role in the management of state forests as well as an assistance and coordination role in the management of other forests.

The CS said the process of transferring devolved constitutional functions to the counties is expected to be concluded by March 2016.

“I am happy to hear that the Service is in the process of finalizing the Transition Implementation Plans and over ninety percent of the work is complete. I thus expect to see the full transfer of these roles in the New Year so that Kenyans can continue getting services both at the national and county level,” said Wakhungu.

The Ministry together with the Kenya Forestry Service are also working on a subsidiary legislation on charcoal.

This law will build on the current Charcoal Rules and seeks to ensure that charcoal is produced and used in a sustainable manner.

“It has been observed that charcoal is both a critical source of energy for most households and also a means of income generation for thousands of Kenyans. It is therefore important that this sector is managed appropriately for the benefit of our people and for environmental sustainability,” said Wakhungu.

The reforms in forest plantation operations including removal of briefcase millers and the need for investment to improve recovery in sawmilling.

The CS noted that the country has continued to experience a sustained growth in tree and forest cover to the estimated present 7.2%.

“As you must be aware, we had been tasked to make sure that the country achieves a 10% forest cover by the year 2030,” she stated.

The Chairman Kenya Forestry Service Peter Kirugua said that they will be working harmoniously with his Staff to ensure continued success.