Eucalyptus Trees Safe, Say Expert

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Wanjohi Gakio

1 July 2011

The Kenya Forest Service has established that eucalyptus has no negative impact on the environment although it consumed large amounts of water. The head of Central Highlands Conservancy John Wachihi said farmers are to blame for the losses which emanate from planting the species in the wrong places in their farms. He said they should first seek guidance from foresters in their areas before planting.

Environment minister John Michuki recently conducted a campaign countrywide and called for the elimination of the tree in the water catchment areas. “The campaign was construed by majority to mean that eucalyptus is harmful and has no benefits, which is not the case,” he said.

Wachihi said that in Central Highlands, 70 per cent of the trees are eucalyptus because they matured fast. He added that if eucalyptus trees are cleared the country will find itself in an environmental problem. “The tree produces charcoal, timber for construction, posts for electricity while its leaves are also used for the manufacture of medicine to 80 per cent of all residents of this area. Its benefits are unmatched,” he said.

Wachihi was speaking to community forest groups at Njabini forest station in Kinangop district during the launch of the district’s participatory forest management plan.

The plan shares out responsibilities to all stakeholders in forest management with a view to helping the country achieve the internationally set standard of 10 per cent of tree cover in the land mass of every country. The country is now at 5 per cent. He urged communities that cultivated in the forests to invest well to enable them sustain themselves even after they get out of the forests.

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