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"id": 189256,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/189256/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maj. Godhana",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Information and Communications",
"speaker": {
"id": 23,
"legal_name": "Dhadho Gaddae Godhana",
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"content": " Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to contribute to the Motion seeking to have Cherengany Forest protected. Let me start by congratulating the Member of Parliament for that area for introducing the Motion to the House. Much has been said about the importance of forests, but allow me to make a few recommendations on the issue of conserving forests and the environment, in this country. Human activities against forests have, over a period of time, greatly contributed to the very severe imbalances in the ecosystem. Logging and harvesting of both indigenous and exotic species have encouraged desertification and, to an extent, contributed to inconsistent rainfall patterns which have, otherwise, affected food security. No wonder we are now experiencing food shortages globally. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, animal species have also been greatly exposed not only to human predators, but also to animal predators for lack of forest cover. It is important to note 1866 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 16, 2008 that the majority of Kenyans still rely on traditional medical methods to supplement the modern scientific methods. It is also important to note that medical research relies mostly on forests. I want to dispel one fact which is that in our discussions we seem to assume that the local people do not understand the importance of forest. I want to pay allegiance to my ancestors for their way of managing forest resources. In our land tenure system, I realise from the spirit of our ancestors that they had a very well balanced land economic plan, where forests are isolated for some reasons: One, for traditional rituals. That is why today we talk of kayas in the Coast Province. We have the Kaya Bombo Forest, the Kaya Fingo Forest, et cetera . These are forests which are used for traditional rituals. No one is allowed to get into those forests for logging or harvesting of trees. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, in the African traditional land economics set up, some areas were reserved for agricultural use, where people could practice subsistence farming. Again, other areas were reserved for grazing. So, I want to dispel the notion that the local people in this country do not understand the importance of forests. There appears to be a conflict between the Government and the local people in the management of forests. The Government's policies seem to have interfered with traditional methods of forest management. The people are kind of isolated from managing forests. Again, there is conflict between human beings and the environment, because of population growth. Land has become scarce. The area that is arable has reduced. I would like to cite the example of the North Eastern Province and Tana River District, where the only areas that are used for farming are the flood plains of the rivers. The rest of the land is semi-arid. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to propose that, in line with the Government's land policy, we develop a very comprehensive regional land economic plan, considering the various human activities in the specific areas, viz-a-viz what we want to safeguard. That way, we can isolate forest species from grazing areas and farmland. For areas where land is not arable, we can develop a land reclamation plan, so that we can relocate people from forests to go and do farming in the reclaimed land. That way, we can effectively safeguard our forests. Secondly, I would like to propose that our forests, especially those which fall within trust areas, be placed under the conservancy of local communities, and not the Government. I am saying so, because the Government policy regarding forest conservation has greatly affected traditional practices in the forests. I can give an example of what we used to call \"Baomo Primate Game Reserve\", which is now Tana National Primate Reserve. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the local people within that area have been living with the primates for many years. The Government came in only the other day, \"chased\" away the people from the forest and took over. Consequently, over the years, there has been conflict between the Government and the local people, because of those monkeys. The local people went to court, contested the Government's move and won the case, but to date, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has refused to surrender the primate species, so that they can be conserved by the local people. I believe that if we, as Government, continue to hijack the responsibilities of the local people, we will continue to have problems. Forest resources can be better managed by the local people rather than by the Government. Mr. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I propose that forests that fall under, or are within the trust areas be placed under conservancy of the locals. I also want to propose that a very comprehensive research should be done countrywide to identify the very important indigenous species in the country. Efforts should be made to plant more of those indigenous species. Again, the locals should be encouraged to plant more exotic species in an effort to increase forest cover in the country. July 16, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1867 I support the Motion. However, I want to emphasise the fact that forest reserves like Chambaomo and Lakola have also not benefited the local people. I wish to request the Ministry concerned to surrender these forests to us, so that the locals can also benefit. The fact that the local people are not benefiting from these forests, is probably the reason why they are interfering with the forests. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}