Kenya’s forests under threat

A new bill by the Kenyan government is threatening Kenya's forests.

If the bill is passed, forest will be at risk of deforestation. Threatened and endangered species, like the ones we are trying to rescue, could be lost.

And, the interests of corporations could be put before that of the forests and the people and wildlife that rely upon them.

“It’s very sad even to think of the proposed amendments. This will reverse the gains we have made in the last 15 years of restoring public forests and water catchment areas,” says Teresa Gitonga, our Kenya Programme Manager. “At ITF, we call upon every Kenyan to reject the amendments. Our grassroot communities are so sad and they all don’t support the proposed amendments.”

The new bill proposed by the Kenya government wants to allow boundary changes to protected forests.

If passed, the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill 2021  would weaken the role of Kenya Forest Service who are mandated to protect all public forests. Instead it would allow politicians to decide who can change forest boundaries. Not only does this risk forests, it also means threatened and endangered species at even more at risk of extinction.

 Kenya is one of the least forested countries in Africa, with just 7% tree cover. There are 1,100 native tree species, of which 10% are threatened with extinction. We are working with BGCI, local communities and many other partners to increase tree cover, restore forests and ensure that none of Kenya’s tree species become extinct.