Talking about water… the Mau Forest debacle
on A Serendipitous Journey (Kenya), 18/Jan/2010 07:11, 34 days ago
The Mau Forest is the largest indigenous forest in East Africa and Kenya’s most important water tower, covering 270,000 hectares, much of which has been destroyed by human activity. It has been a great source of controversy during recent months and spurred political battles over what to do with illegal settlers, as well as how to restore this precious rainforest, which is the second largest in Africa.(1)The government now seems to be taking some action in an attempt to restore the forest, after acknowledging the detrimental environmental effects its degradation have caused and experiencing the effects on the economy, the environment and civil society.National newspapers on Thursday featured a half page ad, in green (a wise colour selection) with the following:“Office of the Prime Minister, Invitation to tree planting in the Mau”“Prime Minister Raila Odinga invites all Kenyans, friends of Kenya, the diplomatic community and development partners to the Tree Planting Exercise at Kaptunga Forest Station in the Mau Forest tomorrow, January 15, 2010 at 10 AM. …This is a call to Kenyans to rise and save their nation. The Mau is the largest tropical rain forest in Africa second only to the Congo Basin. The tree planning ceremony is a statement of our determination to preserve this great national asset and our environment for our children and posterity. It marks our first step to increase our cover from the current 1.7 per cent to at least 10 per cent by 2020. It is our first step to catch up with other African countries whose forest cover stand at an average 9.3 per cent. The forest is strategically important as a water catchment for Kenya and the region. It is the source of twelve (12) main rivers that feed five major lakes that serve our country and region. In saving the Mau, we will ensure the neighbouring towns and institutions… have assured supplies of water. We will also save the Great Wildebeest migration in the (Maasai) Mara. The Forest supports the lives of millions of people in the Rift Valley and western Kenya who are involved in agriculture. It also supports Tourism, Energy and Industrial sectors of our economy.We have a mandate and duty to conserve, preserve, protect and promote the Mau for the future of our country, the region and the world. God bless you. God bless Kenya.”(2)Let’s hope the nation believes and responds to this plea and that the momentum continues.(1)“Mau tree-planting exercise still on despite tiff”. Pg. 2. Daily Nation. Thurs Jan 14, 2009.(2) Half page advertisement.“Invitation to tree planting”. Pg. 15. Daily Nation. Thurs Jan 14, 2009.Reference outcome: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/843320/-/wsexvxz/-/index.html. Daily Nation. Sat Jan 16, 2009.