POPE'S MESSAGE ON ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE EMBRACED

By Maritim Evans

Pope Francis not only brought the word of God to Kenya, but also a strong message on environmental conservation. He dedicated his precious time to talk about environment at United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) headquarters and the need to embrace and encouarge the commitment of international agencies and civil society organisations that draw public attention to environmental issues.

Kenyans should at least pick something from the Pontiff’s message. Our continued destruction of our forests should come to an end. Mau Forest for instance, has been in the headline for a while now but our politicians continue to use it for political gains.

As Pope said, every step we take whether large or small, individual or collective we should at all cost be resposible in matters environment.

Pope preached dialogue with responsible cooperation among the political authorities, the scientific community, the business world and civil society. The cooperation among these bodies cannot be overlooked as it can bring positive change as we try to conserve our natural surrounding.

This much-needed change of course cannot take place without a substantial commitment to education and training. Nothing will happen unless political and technical solutions are accompanied by a process of education which proposes new ways of living as the Pontiff said.

The government should also seriously play its role without fear or favour as it is the custodian of our environment and natural resources.

We need to ensure that our institutions are truly effective and sustainable, as future generations will still need to live in a good environment we are trying to conserve today.

Pope’s message is timely as it comes at a time when the world leaders are in Paris for 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference objective is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, from all the nations of the world.

The conference is an extension of Kyoto Protocol singned in 1997. The Protocol commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and man-made carbon emissions have caused it.

His message on envoironment in Kenya is also important as the world prepares for Habitat-III Conference to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in october 2016.

POLITICIANS SHOULD STOP POLITICISING MAU COMPLEX ISSUE

By Maritim Evans

It is high time politicians should stop politicising the Mau Forest issue and do something worth for us to conserve the forest which is a lifeline for many people across Kenya and beyond. 

Kenya is privileged to have such a big water tower in East Africa and her efforts to conserve it cannot be gainsaid.

The immense value of the forest cannot be underestimated. The ecological services that the Mau Complex provides are estimated to have an annual market value of USD 1.3 billion, supporting Kenya’s most important economic sectors including energy, tourism, and agriculture.

Besides that the forest acts as a natural source of water for many urban centers in Kenya, forming the upper catchment of 12 rivers and feeding five major lakes, including Lake Victoria, the source of the River Nile.

This means that conserving the forest will not only benefit Kenyans, but also Egyptians who mainly depend on water from the Nile for irrigation.

Mau Forest Complex 

Alarming statistics that the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) released in 2011 almost sparked a furious row between Kenya and Egypt.

UNEP revealed that almost a quarter of Mau has been encroached for settlements, illegal resource extraction such as logging and charcoal production, and the change in land use from forest to large-scale tea plantations and smallholder agriculture including change in ownership from public to private. This has taken a toll on the rivers and lakes that depend on the forest catchment area.

In 2008, the inauguration of the Sondu-Miriu hydro power plant was postponed due to low water levels that are said to be resulting from the destruction of the forest.

Despite the huge resources that the country draws from the forest, the Ogiek community has cultural and spiritual attachment to the forest.

Eviction of Mau illegal settlers began in 2005, but the approach used could not work.  The government should not have evicted tens of thousands people while it had no place to settle them.

While it is important to conserve the forest, the illegal inhabitants should be properly settled after eviction.

Even as the eviction and conservation of the forest continue, awareness campaigns should be carried out to teach people the importance of conserving the forest. Resettlement also should not be used as a bait by politicians to win votes.