Agnes Wangechi, a forest officer in Kieni forest wants the government to put aside a kitty that will benefit families that surround government forests for taking the risk of not only taking care of trees but also risking invasion by wild animals.
Speaking from Kieni in Kiambu county on Thursday, Wangechi observed that although most families living close to government forests took greater responsibilities in planting and caring for the trees, they rarely enjoyed government forestry benefits.
The officer however urged the surrounding residents to look beyond and consider forest reserves as sources of livelihood and not just catchments for grazing animals only.
Wangechi further refuted claims that the forestry department was penalizing any individual found grazing animals within the forest boundaries without valid licenses terming them as rumors geared towards tarnishing their name.
"Kshs. 10,000 is only a penalty for any individual found grazing animals within young forest plantations. Such penalties are only meant to protect the young trees from destruction by domestic animals," she said.