Mau Forest Destruction Will Cost the Kenya Economy US$300M
Protecting Mau Forest in Kenya’s Economic Interest
Nairobi, 17 July 2008-Kenya stands to lose a nature-based economic asset worth over US $300 million alone to the tea, tourism and energy sectors if the forest of the Mau Complex continues to be degraded and destroyed, the UN Environment Programme said today.
The Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, announced this week that the Kenyan government is taking steps to combat the destruction of the largest forest ecosystem in Kenya.
The Mau Complex is not only an asset of national importance that supports key economic sectors in Rift Valley and western Kenya, including energy, tourism, agriculture and water supply, but it is also the single most important water catchment in the Rift Valley and western Kenya.
“For the past few years UNEP has been documenting for the Kenyan Government and the people of Kenya the continued destruction and erosion of this vital ecosystem. It has reached a point where if no measures are taken, Kenya will lose one of its fundamental assets,” warned Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister convened a multi-stakeholder forum to collect information to determine a way forward for protection of the Mau Complex.
“The excisions and the widespread encroachments have led to the destruction of nearly a quarter the Mau Complex area over the last 15 years. Such an extensive and on-going destruction of a key natural asset for the country is nothing less than a national emergency,” said the Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The forum highlighted the need to restore the forest of the Mau Complex. Based on the forum discussions, a high-level task force was established to address encroachments into the forests. A new enforcement structure will also be set-up to tackle rampant illegal logging and charcoal making in the Mau Complex.
“We are looking at restoring the largest ‘water tower’ of this country and all the services it provides to the nation. We are looking at securing the livelihood’s of millions of people who depend directly and indirectly on the Mau Forests Complex,” said the Prime Minister.
Kenya Environmental & Political News Weblog 
[…] Environmental & Political News writes about the conservation efforts to protect the Mau Complex, the largest forest ecosystem in the […]
Global Voices Online » Kenya: Protecting the Mau forest
20 July 2008
come on!!!
this is a matter of life and death.
the more we continue to alter with the ecosystem,
the more it retaliates,in adverse ways ofcourse.
we need to realize that protection of our
natural ecosystems all narrows down to individual effort.
lets put politics aside and deal with the hot
issues at hand!!!
sylvia
20 August 2008
[…] learn more about the Mau there are several links: 1. A Birdlife Perspective 2. Mau in the News 3. More news on the Mau There is also a community group that is trying to save the Mau and see also […]
Baraza » The Complications of the Mau Complex
22 August 2008
Please put politics aside and save our forest. We need to think of our children. What shape will Kenya be in when they inherit it?
Irene
14 October 2008
IAM NOT OPPOSED TO PLANNED MAU EVICTIONS BUT THE PROBLEM IS; WHERE WILL THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GO TO? They were settled there several years ago by the government and this government should give them alternative settlement before being evicted.There is no reason for the task force to ask them where they came from before being settled there;every Kenyan has a right to live anywhere in Kenya.The records are in the lands ministry and they should seek what they want from there.The government should not be selective if there is compensation but all with titles be compensated no matter where they came from.
J.s kib
14 November 2008
they had the right to ask them and first and formost
it was a gazzetted place meaning protected thereby they dont have the right to live there and bsides why didnt they choose NEP. The officials behind these should be charged
Ruthie
29 July 2009
The Govement that issued them with title deeds should look for alternative land for them.
the ADC farms that were issued to politician should be reverted to settled those affected.
Kiloku
21 August 2009
we can only save ourselves from this destruction by the gouernment adopting a policy to convert cropped land to grassland and forest by encouraging farmers to return to afforestation with detailed compensation and subsidy scheme
T.C.koech
18 January 2009
wonderful efforts put by the most important people in our country. Kenya not only has this great resource but many others that will most definitely benefit us in thousands of ways and give us reasons to be glad to be part of this country.
elizabeth makau
20 February 2009
most pple in mau have their normal land they should identified and settled .And the remaining group shall be proved wrong and advised accordingly.This is a serious matter for play around for their political gain.The earlier the better.
GISORE_ku
16 March 2009
The destruction of the Mau forest-Kenya’s largest water tower points to an environmental disaster that will have unquantifiable impacts on humanity and the environment at large. Genuine commitment, goodwill, stakeholder willingness and support, awareness creation and depoliticisation of conservation issues is required to save the Mau and forests in Kenya.
Hellen Ipara
24 March 2009
it’s very important we note the comparity btween what we have and what we’ll get in any action we take….obviously,eviction from mau forest looks mean to the locals but it is the ultimate solution. The Government is supposed to buy land for the settlement of those evicted or better still,compensate them the way it would happen if there was discovered a petroleum mine there….mau is the equivalent.
Raphael Munga- KU-ECD
19 May 2009
it’s very important we note the comparity btween what we have and what we’ll get in any action we take….obviously,eviction from mau forest looks mean to the locals but it is the ultimate solution. The Government is supposed to buy land for the settlement of those evicted or better still,compensate them the way it would happen if there was discovered a petroleum mine there….mau is the equivalent…..
Raphael Munga- KU-ECD
19 May 2009
preserve the forest but make sure that you reselt people
kigeni j k
23 May 2009
its sad to know that by the time im twenty one of the forests in my country probably will not exist unless we work together as a country!!!!
Booker
5 June 2009
its sad to come to the fact that i probably wont grow up and see the mau forest!
Booker wangongu
5 June 2009
Those now settled in the Mau forest area should should be remove without anymore time wasting. we need to start the aforestation process today not tomorrow
Prof P. A. kamau
14 July 2009
Dear All,
As a resident of a settlement scheme in Mau, i feel today to set some issues straight.
The pressure in Mau is an historical fact which is just unfolding. The issue of larger Kericho District under tea Estate is a culmination to the populous Kipsigis Community with full resources to seek alternative space to own land and diversify the stake in agriculture and and preserving the culture of security in form of land ownership.
I believe over 90% of settlers in Mau are professionals who either bought land through those allotees (whether through proper allocation or political)
Let us all come and talk to each other.
Forget about task forces who are only pressure groups, Mau can be restored but first remove the illegal settlers with no titles who are currently still destructing the forest.
Many people have invested in tea, dairy farming, horticulture etc and their effots cannot be wisked away.
Lond live Olenguruone. the pride of the Kipsigis.
The last can land for our future generations.
berndske
21 July 2009
Dear All,
As a resident of a settlement scheme in Mau, i feel today to set some issues straight.
The pressure in Mau is an historical fact which is just unfolding. The issue of larger Kericho District under tea Estate is a culmination to the populous Kipsigis Community with full resources to seek alternative space to own land and diversify the stake in agriculture and and preserving the culture of security in form of land ownership.
I believe over 90% of settlers in Mau are professionals who either bought land through those allotees (whether through proper allocation or political)
Let us all come and talk to each other.
Forget about task forces who are only pressure groups, Mau can be restored but first remove the illegal settlers with no titles who are currently still destructing the forest.
Many people have invested in tea, dairy farming, horticulture etc and their effots cannot be wisked away.
Long live Olenguruone. the pride of the Kipsigis.
The last “cannan” land for our future generations.
berndske
21 July 2009
The issue of mau is not about the rift valley members of parliament its all about enviroment and how to safeguard the forest for the benefit of kenyanot politics and who knows how to say what
Gilbert kobi
27 July 2009
what other politician are forgeting is that we are not intrested in their ability to put the pm where he is but is ready to sacrifice for kenya.we are watching these mps keenly
Gilbert kobi
27 July 2009
Those people settled in the Mau forest knowing very well it was gazzetted and well enough it goes to the
officials who allowed this. The original inhabitants
i.e the Ogiek should be compnsated the rest should not.
We have to act fast Big ups to John Michuki
only if it was realised much earlier.
Ruthie
29 July 2009
we accept to go out of mau if the same goverment
that gazzeted the land compasate for us peacefu
lly and fairness,
betty j.
6 August 2009
when will they mau conservation start.what are waiting for .The Government should start planting trees now even full grown trees bought from congo.those willing to surrender their land and have done so then trees plantation should be in progress.those willing to be compensated peacefull should be compenstated and trees planted .Start by compensating the common man mwanainchi big occupants like moi and RV mps will be last because they are doing politics.when all common amn has left they will be left with no one to incite around thye will now talk for themselves and their corruption.so let KWS and PM poceede wisely in phases.
mark
26 August 2009
Not every one in mau is listening to the rutos some people are just waiting to be relocated or compansated for them to move out anytime.Prime minister should start with the small people living in mau with titles.these people will move if without any stress.the land recoverd however small 2 hactare or 50mX 50m then trees should be planted the next day.a task force for tree planting should not wait for politicians.they should go on with tree planting
vero
26 August 2009
people whose grab mau forest and finaly sold to the innocent people should be the one to compensete the victim of mau forest and the government to use the budget money to save the forest
Samuel
12 September 2009
I AM A PERSON FROM THIS EXPANSE AND I KNOW THE DESTRUCTION IS WANTON.I BELIEVE EDUCATING PEOPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE FOREST WILL LEAVE MANY OF US LEAVE THE PLACE VOLUNTARILY.
Amos
28 September 2009
the Mau forest should be restored no matter the cost. Those who claim to be in possession of title deeds are joking as you don’t have to be educated to know that any title deed belonging to the public cannot be sold to private individuals
pauline ongaji
13 October 2009
the Mau forest should be restored no matter the cost. Those who claim to be in possession of title deeds are joking as you don’t have to be educated to know that any public land cannot be sold to private individuals
pauline ongaji
13 October 2009
n o nature waits for the man
Anonymous
26 October 2009
OUR GOVERNTMENT SHOULD STOP PLAYING A HIDE AND SEEK GAME WITH OUR FOREST.PEOPLE SHOULD BE EVICTED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
NDEGWA
26 October 2009
mau should be free from any human settlement or we have desert in rift valley rich agricultural land
Ayieko
28 November 2009
question? if u were to chose would you worry about 100,000 people who are illegally exploiting natural resources or 38,000,000 who have a God given right to utilize resources for their livelihood!!!!!?????? common people, take righteous stand.
john
6 January 2010
we must kept the environment and make our kenya a country to live
kipkirui jacob
23 February 2010
LET US SAVE MAU
OMONDI
21 May 2010