Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has called out a section of the media for alleging that it had given out 60,000 hectares of the Mau Forest Complex to the Initiatives for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) Project funded by Dutch firm IDH.
KFS however clarified that it was in a working partnership with the said firm to conserve and rehabilitate Mau Complex contrary to the media reports.
“This ongoing partnership does not imply in any manner handing over of the management of the forest. The Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016 mandates the Service with conservation and management of all gazetted forest blocks and there are no intentions whatsoever to hand over management of forests to any other entity,” the statement read in part.
Reports alleged that the Dutch firm was using Mau Forest for Carbon credits that allowed them to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
However, KFS revealed that the Kenya Kwanza administration led by President William Ruto was developing frameworks for carbon credits.
“The Government is in the process of finalizing Carbon Trading regulations which will guide implementation of the Climate Change Act as amended to streamline carbon trading in the country for the benefit of all Kenyans,” KFS maintained.
