Timber Manufacturers defend their tree-cutting jobs in the forests

Sawmillers from Kiambu and Nyandarua counties on Monday asked the government to educate people about environmental conservation.

They said that, as it is, politicians are too easily accusing them of destroying natural forests.

Under the umbrella of the Timber Manufacturers Association (TMA), the traders explained that the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has a clear Strategic Management Plan, which sets aside 6pc of the forest for commercial tree planting and 94 per cent as natural forests.

Led by Kiambu TMA chairman Wainaina Mburu, popularly known as “Boy’s”, they said trees grown for commercial purposes are planted in plantation regions, which are covered by the 6pc.

He said the 94 per cent is left for natural forests, where water towers are located, and no one is allowed to cut down any tree there.

Plantation sections are planted with exotic trees such as cypress, pine and bluegum, which are ready for harvest after about 30 to 35 years.

“After several years, those trees are ripe for harvesting. If they pass the time for harvesting, they start decaying and finally they fall. When an overgrown tree is sold and cut, it cannot give you good timber; it becomes a waste,” he explained.

“Many a time the government announces tenders to clear the plantation regions and sawmillers reject them, since the trees are overgrown and no one wants to buy them. They will not give you good results,” he said.

He was speaking during a press conference at Kinale Forest in Lari Sub-county in Kiambu, where over 90 members of the Timber Manufacturers Association had met.

Nyandarua TMA chairman Jacob Gachanja asked opposition politicians not to keep criticising the government together with entrepreneurs operating legal ventures, since they have invested a lot of money in them.

He said driving a narrative that they were cutting down and selling trees uncontrollably from forests was wrong.

“Once we get those tenders, we are supervised by KFS officers to ensure we have done it well. We have never heard of a sawmiller who has gone against the tender directives,” he said.

Another member of the TMA, Fredrick Kiguru, said the trade in commercial forests happens in many countries in Africa, Europe, America and Asia, since furniture is needed in nearly all homesteads.

“Furniture is used in every homestead. To manage it, we must plan ahead. The KFS strategy is the best for this country. We have seen harvesting and even planting on those harvested regions,” Kiguru said.

Njinu Warwathe, the secretary of the Community Forest Association (CFA) at Kinale Forest, said the community and the TMA have planted seedbeds that can sustain tree planting for two years.

Warwathe added that, once trees are harvested, the KFS allocates the locals pieces of land where they cultivate food crops under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Systems (PELIS).

“While we are growing food crops, the KFS plants trees in those plots. As we cultivate our food crops, we cultivate those trees planted too,” he said.

“Those trees grow well since they benefit from the fertilisers and pesticides we use on our food crops. We are allocated other plots once the planted trees are tall,” he said.

Another CFA member, Cyrus Wanjohi, applauded President William Ruto for starting a programme that will see 15 billion trees planted by 2032, since the region that has already been cut will be planted soonest.

“The KFS officers are very keen. Once a plantation is cleared, they distribute those forests to CFA members, who prepare them to plant food crops. Once they plant their first food crops, the government commences to plant trees,” Wanjohi said.