NAIROBI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Tuesday decried unsustainable management of forests across the country, warning it could affect the country's growth prospects.
Environment and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary Professor Judi Wakhungu appealed for serious intervention, saying forests' ability to sustain ecosystem businesses is fast reducing.
"In spite of the role that forests centrally play in environmental stability, forest ecosystems businesses are increasingly under threat from the ever growing pressure to meet anthropological needs," Wakhungu said at the national dialogue on biodiversity mainstreaming into sectors of the economy.
She observed that the flood regulation functions of forests are increasingly impaired as impact of climate change becomes even more real.
"We all have a role in ensuring sustainable forest management approaches are deeply entrenched in restoration of landscapes including water catchment in both protected, community and private forests," she noted.
Wakhungu called on forest experts to start mainstreaming biodiversity into other sectors of the economy and ensure functional ecosystems for healthy populations.
She noted that the ultimate reason for mainstreaming biodiversity into other sectors of the economy is to ensure functional ecosystems for healthy human populations and environment.
"We have to safeguard lives of the poor people within our communities who are the first to suffer when natural resources disappear or are depleted," she added.
Studies from around the world have shown that women tend to bear the brunt of such degradation because they often depend most on the availability of and easy access to water and fuel wood.
While, this happens, she said that business and, hence the national economy suffer greatly and takes time to recover.
She announced that the government is developing a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and also the first National Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
Wakhungu also hailed the role played by the private sector adding that the government welcomes the initiative by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to develop a Long Term Vision to expand funding mechanism for biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Arc Mountains region of Kenya and sustain impacts in the long term.
Forests host bulk of biodiversity, apart from providing water, sequestrating carbon, providing a base for renewable energy, Hydro-power generation and support other sectors of development.
Kenya recently launched the National Forest Program (NFP) to increase forest and tree cover and reverse forest degradation, enhance forest based economic, social and environment benefits, integrate national values and principles of good governance in forest development while working toward increase forest based investments. Enditem
