Interview: Restoring 850k hectares of degraded forests by involving communities
Kenya’s natural resources play a critical role in not only helping Kenya achieve her goals but also in meeting some of the international protocols and obligations. Environment PS Margaret Mwakima outlines to the Star the steps her ministry is taking to make natural resources sustainable.
Rampant deforestation has hurt water catchment areas. What is your ministry doing about it, and can a 10 per cent constitutional forest cover be achieved?
In the past, cases of degradation to water catchment areas occurred in various parts of the country, mainly due to forestland being given out for human settlement, as opposed to its core function of watershed conservation. Other causes of degradation included human encroachment, forest fires, illegal logging, overgrazing and charcoal burning.
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