Machakos County Forest Conservator James Chomba. (Photo|Brian Itava)
Iveti hills forest in Machakos County has contracted three saw millers who are expected to clear the forest by November. According to County Forest Conservator James Chomba, the contractors will clear the 22.2 hectares of the forest.
The exercise of clearing the Iveti forest is a blessing in disguise for the contracted saw millers who are looking to make the most of the opportunity at the expense of losing the forest for a short while.
Speaking at the forest grounds on Wednesday when he announced the go-ahead to those who have been contracted, the County Forest conservator James Chomba said the three saw millers will clear fell trees in readiness for replanting of the forest in November.
“70,000 tree seedlings are ready for planting once the millers will be through with harvesting the mature trees,” Mr. Chomba said.
Mr. Mutinda Mutisya and Jackson Kioko who are Saw Millers in one accord said that the community living near the forest will benefit through harvesting of firewood for domestic use and for sale as they were part of the forest conservation system.
However, they cautioned locals against uninformed opposition to the exercise as clear-felling was part of the forest management practices.
A similar exercise was carried out in the forest in the year 2014 and replanting done in 2015.