Nature destroys those who disrespect it

If forests are included in the Copenhagen post-Kyoto protocol, East Africa stands to gain from the emerging carbon markets, an opportunity that should encourage us to protect our forests, especially the one that affects all East Africans: the Mau Forest Complex.

It is for this reason that the Green Belt Movement supports the eviction of settlers in the Mau Forest and has initiated the “Enough is Enough” campaign to reclaim grabbed forests, rivers and wetlands.

The first event is at Spring Valley, Westlands on Saturday, August 1, 2009.

East Africans should be particularly concerned about the Mau Forest Complex because at 400,000 hectares, it is the largest forest cover in East Africa and feeds major rivers such as the Nzoia, Yala and Mara.

The Mara river traverses the Maasai Mara and provides a lifeline for wildlife not only in the Mara but also in the Serengeti national park in Tanzania.

Other rivers arising from the forest are Sondu and Miriu, on which the Japanese government has built a hydropower plant.

There is also the Ewaso Nyiro, which feeds Lake Natron in Tanzania, where the flamingoes breed.

The waters from many of these rivers flow into lake Victoria, which feeds the Nile.

The Njoro River flows eastwards into Lake Nakuru, home of the flamingoes, while the Kerio river flows northwards into Lake Turkana.

Quite obviously, any negative impact from such a huge forest complex will affect not only the people of Kenya but East Africans in general. Indeed, also the people of Sudan and Egypt.

In East Africa alone, agriculture, tourism and the livelihoods of millions people around Lake Victoria and major national parks as well as people on both sides of the Central Rift depend on the positive climatic conditions provided by the Mau Forest Complex.

It is important to remind ourselves that forests are among the common resources that should be managed for the common good of all.

They should not be dished out as political gifts to friends and supporters.

Those who benefit from such corruption, mismanagement and misuse of power and public resources should not be rewarded with compensation.

This is because compensating people who were bribed sends the wrong message to the corrupt.