Baringo County has launched forest conservation initiative.
The Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko led the launch of the Tenges Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP) and the signing of the Forest Management Agreement at Tenges Forest Station in Baringo County.
The ceremony marked a milestone for the conservation and sustainable management of the 9,110.0 hectare Tenges forest.
During the event, Mr. Lemarkoko encouraged the development of ecotourism activities in the forest, including nature walks, which will be facilitated under the user rights established by the Forest Management Agreement.
He advised Community Forest Associations (CFAs) countrywide to stick to their mandate and collaborate with the Service to ensure effective forest management.
The Forest Management Act 2016 provides communities with the opportunity to partner directly with potential donors through the PFMP, significantly enhancing resource mobilization capabilities. This legislative framework supports the community-driven approach that underpins the Tenges initiative.
Green Zones Development Support Project Phase II (GZDSP II), which funded the development of the PFMP has also established17 tree nurseries in Baringo County, with over 400 skilled and unskilled casual workers employed through the same project.
The management plan is designed to enable sustainable forest management while enhancing sustainable forest-based livelihoods for the TENKWEN Community Forest Association. Some of the objectives include the rehabilitation of degraded sites through enrichment planting and efforts to curb illegal logging and charcoal burning activities that threaten the forest’s integrity.
Present during the ceremony was the DCCF Natural Forest Conservation Beatrice Mbula, GZDSP II Project Manager Alfred Kurgat, Mau Regional Forest Conservator Martin Mamati, Baringo CFC Anne Nyaoke, and the MP for Baringo, Hon. Joshua Kandie, other stakeholders, the community, and KFS staff.
