Fire destroys 3,000 hectares of forest
A fierce fire gutted Migaa forest in Sachangwan for the second day on March 10, 2015. SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Mugo called on saw millers in Baringo, Koibatek, Molo and Elburgon to suspend their activities and help fight the fires.
- “KFS feels some disgruntled individuals could be lighting the fires as a way of revenging or simply to open up forests for settlement,” said Dr Mugo.
- Mr Kirigua said it was unfortunate that people were burning forests instead of protecting them as part of their heritage.
Nearly 3,000 hectares of forests in Rift Valley have been destroyed by fire in the past three weeks.
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Acting Director Emilio Mugo said the fires could be sabotage by people who want to settle in government forests.
He also blamed people who had been arrested for illegal logging, those banned from logging and former squatters, for the destruction of the 2,800 hectares of forests.
“KFS feels some disgruntled individuals could be lighting the fires as a way of revenging or simply to open up forests for settlement,” said Dr Mugo.
The Mau Forest Complex is the most affected, as parts of its 22 blocks, especially in areas around East Mau in Narok, Kericho, Sururu, Olposimoru, Londiani and Koibatek, having been burnt.
Dr Mugo (right) spoke at the Nakuru KFS office on Wednesday after an air surveillance tour of forests in Rift Valley.
“ We have deployed additional personnel and equipment to put out the fire in the Sururu block, which has been burning for the past 10 days,” said Dr Mugo.
“We have already lost hundreds of acres of vegetation in the indigenous forests and we are sending more people to arrest the situation,” he added.
Dr Mugo, who was accompanied by KFS Chairman Peter Kirigua and other senior officials, said fire outbreaks had been sporadic.
DONE THEIR BEST
“Our rangers have done their best to put the situation under control with the help of the different county governments and residents,” said Dr Mugo.
“Similar fires have been experienced in Menengai Forest, where close to 500 acres of vegetation have been razed by sporadic fires.”
Dr Mugo called on saw millers in Baringo, Koibatek, Molo and Elburgon to suspend their activities and help fight the fires.
“The government is investigating the cause of fires. We have also increased surveillance, especially now that the weatherman has warned that the dry season might be prolonged,” he said.
Mr Kirigua said it was unfortunate that people were burning forests instead of protecting them as part of their heritage.
“There are those who want to blame the fires on arson while others believe smoke from forest fires would bring rain. This is just a myth,” he said.
“Our people need to know that it is the forests that attract rain,” he added, noting that rangers would also be trained on fire fighting techniques.”
