caption Timber Manufacturers Association (TMA) during a press conference at Kutus town on Saturday. From left Bernard Gitau TMA National chairman flagged by National secretary John Wakaba.
TIMBER MANUFACTURES ASSOCIATION.
JANE MUGAMBI 9TH OCTOBER 2011.

Timber Manufacturers Association has said that timber worth 56 billion shilling is wasting away in 38 hectares in Mt.Kenya forest.

According to TMA chairman Bernard Gitau said that the timber wasting is due to the rules that NEMA has issued to KFS on harvesting and felling of trees.

He said that NEMA should understand that there is dense cover in 19000 hectares which need to be respaced management issue that does not allow any other party setting in.

“Kenya Forest Service and Timber Manufacturers association have been rehabilitating neglected nurseries in Mt.Kenya forest in two years” he added.

HE said that KFS should be left to manage the forest saying that it has professionals who know their work saying that other parastatals (KWS, NEMA) are behind the cancellation of harvesting of forest.

Mr. Gitau also said that their mandate is to conserve the forest saying that the loggers who have been cutting down indigenous trees are not their members.

“TMA has never been allowed to cut indigenous trees, KFS does not issue permit for indigenous clearing” added Gitau.

He said that they have 600 saw millers and 300 wood industries where 1 million Kenyans benefit from their services.

He said that the trees planted are for commercial purposes saying that logging should not be presumed as destruction.

Mr. Gitau also said that it is very contradicting to have government officers being taken to court by the same law that gives them power.

HE said that the three parastatals need to sit down and talk on the measures that should be taken to avert more court cases to support that pin pointing fingers on KFS.

John Wakaba the National secretary said that Kamweti forest which is 150 hectares is under forest management by KFS.

HE said that proper planting need to be done in the said forest which is under controversy after NEMA boss directed KFS not to issue any license to loggers.

Kamweti and castle forest has seen the director of KFS and the zonal manager arraigned in court facing three charges for failing to comply with NEMA law to carry Environmental impact Assessment

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