By Timothy Wekesa.
The Kenya Forest Service has entered a formal partnership to jointly restore degraded Mount Elgon ecosystem with the County Government of Bungoma.
In a meeting held at the County headquarters, all stakeholders in forest and environmental conservation pledged to make concerted efforts to ensure that the dignity of Mount Elgon forest bounces back.
The Principal Deputy Senior Chief Conservator of KFS Charity Munyasia said the integrated conservation project will take five years, a period which she says will yield fruit for the once blossoming forest.
“KFS, KALRO and counties of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia will all be integral since the forest extends to Trans Nzoia,” she said.
Bungoma Deputy Governor Jennifer Mbatiany who represented Governor Lusaka said used the opportunity to welcome the project, lauding KFS for using a community centered approach to manage forest reserves.
“The conflicts with residents are diminishing since they now understand that restoration of the forest will benefit them directly, the county government of Bungoma will aptly back up the efforts,” she said.
She said Mount Elgon forest is the only water tower in the Lake Region Economic block and the plans of KFC and FAO to restore it by empowering locals is the ideal way to make them own it up and support restoration efforts.
The project costs USD 5.4M where over 7,000 Ha of degraded forest land is expected to be restored.
Bungoma county commissioner Thomas Sankei said the project will also boost livelihoods of over 10,000 people both directly and indirectly.
“They will be contracted to supply seedlings, to offer manual labour and take part in planting which will also boost them economically,” he said.
