Menengai Forest Chief Warden Mark Odera has warned pilgrims and nature lovers who tour and camp in the forest against interfering with vegetation and trees during their activities.
According to the chief warden, the forest management had introduced new regulations restricting unauthorized activities and visits in the forest as a way of protecting the natural environment that has suffered destruction in the recent past.
“We will no longer allow religious pilgrims and nature lovers who come to camp in the forest to interfere with the natural vegetation and trees. They will also be required to register with our office before being allowed to camp,” said the forest warden.
Odera added that the new regulations will also require a strict supervision of herds and firewood harvesters who will only be allowed into the forest after paying an increased fee amount that is dedicated towards reducing the frequency of using the forest resource and hence enhancing the reclamation of the endangered natural resource.
He further said that the forest department would partner with the local Menengai Geothermal Company and community based organizations to plant more trees in the forest.
During the dry season that began in November last year up to March this year, the forest suffered fire out breaks that destroyed big portions of the forest resources.