AfriPulse
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa confirmed that workers are clearing a portion of Karura Forest to build a tree nursery and temporary housing for National Youth Service (NYS) officials.
In an interview with NTV, Barasa explained that the government cleared two to three acres of the forest to support a nationwide tree-growing initiative. This space will allow the state to grow up to five million seedlings.
The CS noted that these seedlings will drive afforestation projects across the country, targeting public parks, forests, cities, schools, and highways.
“To propagate around five million seedlings, we need space where we can establish nurseries and mobilize human resources to support the process,” Barasa said.
Barasa argued that the project requires temporary housing for NYS (National Youth Service) officers to manage the nursery and support such a massive production of seedlings.
She explained that this program forms a key part of the government’s strategy to boost Kenya’s forest cover from 12% to 30% in the coming years.
However, the sight of falling trees has alarmed conservationists and the public, especially groups like Friends of Karura Forest. These advocates raised serious concerns about how the state is managing this protected urban green space, particularly regarding the potential negative impacts on biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of the forest ecosystem.
Barasa denied claims that the government is destroying the forest, insisting instead that the work will bolster national tree-planting efforts.
She added that the national campaign aims to mobilize communities across various ecological zones, including coastal areas, drylands, and wetlands, to grow and plant more trees to restore damaged ecosystems.
Source: NairobiWire.com | Read the Full Story…
