Governor Mutua bans logging in Machakos for three years

Machakos governor Dr. Alfred Mutua has banned logging in the county for the next three years.

Mutua, who also launched a project to plant 50 million trees by 2022, said he targets to raise forest cover from the current 4.5 per cent in the county to the globally recommended minimum of 10 per cent.

“Our aim is for every person in Machakos to plant and take care of five trees by December of this year. Our target is to plant a minimum of 7 million trees and to have 5 million trees survive by the end of 2018,” he added.

The governor launched the initiative days after the national government slapped a 90-day ban on logging following concerns that Kenya’s major forests have been decimated by illegal loggers. The destruction of trees has been linked to the current drought, rising temperatures and the drying up of rivers.

Added Mutua: “Trees that will need to be cut to pave way for for development works by individuals will only be cut down with written permission from the county. Special permits from my office will be given to business people who planted trees for business and need to harvest them.”

Under the programme however, no permits will however be given in 2018.

The Maendeleo Chap Chap leader, while asking organisations to donate seedlings for the project, urged Kenyans to plant trees during events such as anniversaries, weddings, and birthday parties.