The Ministry of Environment and Forestry on Friday issued a stern warning to cattle herders regarding illegal grazing in forest areas.
In an official notice, Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya cautioned Kenyans against grazing their cattle on forest land, emphasising that such activities hinder the government's efforts to increase the country's tree cover.
To combat illegal grazing, CS Tuya revealed that the government plans to deploy advanced technology to enhance forest surveillance.
Additionally, Tuya mentioned that the government is in the process of delineating forest boundaries to clearly separate them from residential areas, further protecting these vital ecosystems.
According to the CS, the government would also launch a fencing program to ensure all gazette public forest lands are protected from illegal encroachments.
While underscoring the need to protect forests, CS Tuya reiterated that Kenya's public forests were critical to the goal of raising our country's tree cover to 30 per cent by 2032.
"Cases of illegal grazing in public forests are on the rise across the country. This undermines the progress we are making towards the 15 billion national trees growing target," the CS revealed.
A directive was also issued to the Chief Conservator of Forests to ensure that established rules and regulations on grazing and grass harvesting in public forests are implemented.
On matters of forest user rights, the Ministry shall only engage with forest-adjacent communities that are members of duly registered Community Forest Associations (CFAs)," CS Tuya stated.
"The Ministry recognizes the immense public support for our environmental conservation efforts and lauds the renewed vigour by Kenyans towards tree growing countrywide," she added.
Tuya's notice comes against the backdrop of a recent circular issued by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) about the new guidelines on the use of forest lands.
In its notice, KFS announced the introduction of zoning to help tame illegal grazing in forested areas.
According to the service, forest zonation and mapping would be done to identify designated forest areas suitable for grazing as prescribed in the Participatory Management Plans concerning the forest station (PFMP).
"Grazing is prohibited in plantation areas that are less than 4 years old and areas set aside for rehabilitation through natural regeneration and areas set aside for treatment of natural regeneration," the notice read in part.
"Others are sensitive areas, such as natural springs, swamps and river sources."
