Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered an immediate ban on the export of raw veneer materials, a move aimed at safeguarding the country’s environmental future.
This action, announced on Tuesday, August 27, is expected to reshape the timber industry and refocus efforts on sustainable practices within Kenya.
Veneers, which are thin layers of wood typically bonded to other wood surfaces, have become a valuable commodity in global trade, particularly to markets in India and China. However, the unregulated and premature harvesting of trees for veneer production has raised alarms among environmentalists and local manufacturers alike.
A recent investigation by NTV highlighted the troubling reality of indiscriminate logging, primarily of eucalyptus trees, by foreign nationals. This practice not only threatens Kenya’s reforestation efforts but also undermines the country's economy by bypassing local tax obligations.
Kenya’s timber manufacturers have been sounding the alarm for months, claiming that the country has lost nearly a billion shillings in revenue over the past three months due to these unchecked activities. Despite a formal ban on eucalyptus exports to China, the export of eucalyptus veneers has continued unabated, contributing to a growing concern over the sustainability of Kenya’s forests.
In his announcement, CS Duale directed the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to cease issuing "no objection" letters for the export of raw veneers. This directive is expected to put an immediate halt to the export of these materials, thereby curbing the premature harvesting of trees and aligning with the government's broader environmental goals.
The suspension of veneer exports is a critical measure in support of Kenya’s National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy. This ambitious plan aims to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes through the planting of 15 billion trees, with the ultimate goal of achieving 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.
Duale’s decision is a clear signal of the government’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, a commitment that is now being enforced with the full weight of regulatory action.
Reports of immature trees being harvested from farmlands have further points to the need for this ban. By halting the export of raw veneer, the government intends to ensure that these trees are allowed to mature, thereby contributing more effectively to the nation’s reforestation efforts.
The veneer industry in Kenya has long been a source of both economic opportunity and environmental concern. While the export of veneer sheets and plywood materials to countries like China has brought in significant revenue—$3.87 million (about Ksh498,726,900 in the current exchange rates) in 2023 alone—the cost to Kenya’s environment has been steep.
The unchecked logging practices that have emerged in the wake of the lifting of the logging ban have threatened to undo years of progress in reforestation and environmental conservation.
CS Duale’s decision to ban raw veneer exports is a turning point. It marks a shift from reactive to proactive environmental policy, with the government taking a firm stance against practices that endanger the country’s natural resources.
This move is expected to galvanise stakeholders across the industry to adopt more sustainable practices and join the government in its mission to restore Kenya’s landscapes.
