Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde has reiterated the government’s commitment to preserve the mega water catchment area- Maasai Mara forest.
Masinde indicated that the county security crew will fly over the forest Wednesday October 12, 2022 in order to inspect it and confirm its safety from any human activity.
“We will continue protecting the forest from any human encroachment because it is a major water catchment area in Africa. No one should enter the forestland without permission from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS),” he said.
The CC emphasized that the forest is a critical water catchment area for River Mara which flows through the Mara Ecosystem.
“The Maasai community living in Narok County mainly depends on tourism to earn a living. If we destroy the Mau Forest, the river Mara will dry up and severely affect the wildlife at the Maasai Mara Game reserve,” he said.
The CC spoke to journalists at the office, where he stated that 20 young people were recruited from the community and made into scouts for the forest.
He explained that the forest scouts would also have to educate the residents about conserving the forest in order for the community to embrace it.
He also asked residents to obtain permission from the KFS if they wish to cut the forest grass for their cows.
The Kenya Water Towers Authority, government, built a 30-kilometer fence around the forest in 2020-2021 to prevent residents from trying to encroach on the forestland.
Maasai Mau, one of the 22 blocks making up the Mau Forest Complex, was illegally encroached upon by ballooning five adjacent group ranches during sub-division.
The government expelled over 35,000 settlers out of the forest in 2019, and managed to reclaim nearly 40,000 hectares.
By Ann Salaton
Source: kenyanews
