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Saving Kenyan forest. Is it a turning point?
After a decade of rampant destruction of the Mau forest water catchment in western Kenya, the country’s coalition government seems firmly united in trying to save the complex before more serious damage is inflicted on the economy.
U.N. officials say this is no longer simply an environmental issue but something that has huge importance for the whole country. Already two of the top three foreign exchange earners — tourism and tea — are feeling the impact of falling water levels which have also forced the postponement of a major hydro-electric project.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga describes the forest’s destruction as a national emergency. Both foreign and local officials say there is no gap between Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki on the issue.
Saving the forest will involve huge costs to resettle and compensate some of the thousands of people living illegally there and restore tree cover which produces vital supplies of water. Officials say they expect international donors to provide major financial help.
Until a few months ago, the destruction of the forest was a familiar story of land grabbing, illegal logging and the allocation of government land to try to win votes. It began in 1997 when the government of Daniel arap Moi gave large plots away in exchange for electoral support.
Then, this year, the United Nations flew Odinga and other officials over the forest to show them the extent of the destruction, shocking them into urgent action.
The government is pushing ahead despite the fact that many of the area’s MPs and voters belong to Odinga’s ODM party. Unlike the past, political considerations are being pushed to one side in the national interest. U.N. officials call this process unique for a country long blighted by the depradations of powerful and greedy politicians.
This is very encouraging but very unfortunate to see that still there are some of the politicians who want a compromise on this grave issue, and i also personally think that why get financial help for a mess we have created?? it beats logic, let the government and politicians come up with the money to compensate the so called “squatters”, they are the cause of all this in the first place, our ecosystem is at the mercy of tribal leaders who only think of political sustainability but not sustaining life. We are waiting to see what happens on this issue, meanwhile i ask fellow kenyans to plant at least a tree on there birthday or once a year and to care for the tree, if we want nature to be kind to us let us be kind to it.
from Photographers Blog:
Violence in South Africa: Audio slideshow
Reuters photographer Siphiwe Sibeko talks about his experiences capturing dramatic images of the outbreak of violence in South Africa.
okay, so last time i checked, the goverment was elected by the people, so were is the milk and honey that was promised??? sorry, no sympathy here, deal with it, its what people voted for. just a shame so many good and hardworking black and white people have to suffer because of ignorant others
Hi,I am really one very dissapointed fan. I thought you were fair about relaying the news, what we keep hearing is that it was nothing it is just some minor incidents. Well we haven’t heard about the violence against the Egyptian team in Algeria, we haven’t heard a word about what was done to Egyptian investments after the match, and on top of all we haven’t seen the real truth( where reuters always has the lead with pictures and videos) about what really happened in Sudan.The amazing and fascinating part is that the media around the world is willing to believe three Algerians who calim to be hit by stones.Oh!! these Egyptians must be really really good at aiming because hitting a bus going 40 km/hour in an almost empty street is amazing. And a pretigeous hotel causing damages to its lobby just beacuse a few Algerians are there is amazing. What a wonderful realistic story.On the other hand you are refusing to listen to hundreds of Egyptians who were there in Sudan. There is nothing more to be said, and by the way this is not was not and will not be the last time that Egypt is not in the World cup.