Formation of the Karura Forest Environmental Education Trust is in the final stages after the key stakeholders agreed on the contents of the trust deed during a meeting held at Shell Offices on Tuesday 20^th July 2010. The Trust will guide management of the former Shell Club located in Karura Forest, which is now expected to be turned into an environmental education centre that will be open to the public and particularly targeting school children.

Nobel Laureate Hon. Prof. Wangari Maathai (right) stresses a point to her conservation colleague Alice Macaire, Chairperson of Friends of Karura Association: The two were part of a meeting to discuss the formation of an education center to be located at the former Shell Club in Karura Forest

Present at the meeting was Achim Steiner, Executive Director UNEP, and Nobel Laureate, Hon. Prof. Wangari Maathai, both of who pledged their support to the non-profit Centre. The center is expected to provide recreational and conferencing facilities and it will include construction features that emphasize environmental conservation and embrace green technologies such as solar lighting. The ultimate aim will be to educate the public on the importance of the environment and how it contributes to people's lives.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director UNEP (right) and Jimmy Mugerwa Country Chairman Shell (left) listen to Christian Lambretchs UNEP Program Officer during a discussion on the establishment of Karura Forest Environmental Education Trust.

The trust will draw its capital from donations and contributions and a team of trustees will oversee investment ventures. The team of trustees includes Kenya Shell Ltd, Kenya Forest Service, Green Belt Movement, Friends of Karura Community Forest Association and Oshwal Education & Relief Board. The 16 acres piece of land is currently leased by Kenya Shell Ltd. for a period of 23 years and all further construction will be controlled by the Board of Trustees. The Center is expected to host a photo gallery, an archive of Karura Forest which has a rich history, a library focusing on conservation materials, sports facilities and a revolving gallery that will focus on various conservation issues. The Centre is closely located to the Karura nature trail hence it provides a great opportunity for the public to learn and visit the nearby forest consisting of caves and a scenic waterfall.

In an effort to improve communications with the various customers, stakeholders and general public, we have acquired more telephone lines from all the local operators so as to ease communication with the Headquarters. We have gone further and placed adverts in the local press to ensure that this information reaches far and wide. Kindly share with others.

Kenya Forest Service wishes to hear from you

We have installed the following new telephone lines & emails to help you reach our Karura Headquarters easily

                                          Service Provider          Telephone Number/Email/Fax

                                          TelkomWireless      -            020-2689865 

                                                                                    020-2689882

                                                                                    020-2020285

                                                                                    020-2014663

                                                                                    020-2385374   (Fax)

                                            Safaricom         -                  0715-735555

                                                                                    0715-736262

                                             Zain             -                     0735-909227

                                                                                    0735-909228

                                            YU                   -                 0750-505034

Email:       This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can also use the following lines & emails for specific reasons indicated:-  

                                       Director's   Office              020-2502508

                                       Public   Relations              020-2396440

                                                                               020-2395512   (Fax)

                                                                                 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

                                      Report   Forest Destruction      -   020-2017027

                                      Report   Corruption to Integrity Line-   020-2446644

                                                                                                   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

                                      Report   other Complaints to  -    0716-277773

                                                                                            This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

                                      Reach   Ministry of Forestry Hotline (Toll Free)  -   0800-2212323

Please note that our old Landlines 020-3754904/5/6 are currently out of order due to cable vandalism. We will notify you once they return to service.

Kenya Forest Service

PO Box 30513-00100 Nairobi

www.kenyaforestservice.org

Trees for better lives

                                          Telkom   Wireless                 20-2689883     

The Kenya Forest Service stand at the Nakuru Agricultural Show impressed all and sundry due to its outstanding display and well organized outline of forestry activities. During the official opening ceremony, His Excellency the President Hon. Mwai Kibaki, M.P. informed the public of KFS mandate noting that the government through the Service would endeavor to reforest the country and a target to conserve 100,000 ha was planned in the current financial year. In addition, 930 hectares under the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme would be planted.

Antony Nguthiru forester Elburgon division explains to students from Mariashoni Primary School about the Mau Conservancy through an outdoor model. The students were curious to learn more about the Mau Forest Complex within which their school is located.

The main forestry activities were well showcased at the KFS stand and visitors got to see a well conserved indigenous forest which was not just a model but an actual forest, planted several years back. The stand flowed from a well presented information center to a miniature ground model of Mau Conservancy and on to a tree nursery complete with fruit seedlings, indigenous, exotic and ornamental tree seedlings. A model forest station with a customer care desk and a fire tower clearly depicted the work done by foresters and forest rangers. A well - modeled ecotourism site was carefully placed within the indigenous forest, clearly outlining ecotourism activities such as boardwalks, camping sites, bird-watching and an ecotourism lodge. LANAMEDUBA a CFA group was also at hand to showcase its activities in the areas they represent. An impeccable model of agro - forestry also stood out with its fully grown food crops and trees.

Students observe how toothpicks are made from wood pieces, from one of the forest -based entrepreneurial businesses that were on display at the KFS Nakuru show stand.

In line with the show theme "Driving agri - business in attaining food sufficiency and Vision 2030,"a display of entrepreneurial ventures was essential, hence exhibitors dealing with forest related products were at hand with their displays. On exhibit were products such as herbal medicine, wood carvings, furniture and charcoal pellets made from charcoal dust mixed with soil. The raw materials for making these products are obtained from forests.

One of the main concerns by visitors was the Mau Forest Complex, which has featured prominently in the press in the last two years. A lot of questions were raised regarding the MFC and visitors were curious to learn of its geographical outline as depicted in maps. Students were informed of the twelve lakes that originate from the MFC. Hundreds of visitors got to learn more about forestry and KFS managed to scoop position two in the best Environmental Management Trade stand. The show took place from 14th to 18th July 2010.

The KFS Board of Management held the first meeting yesterday 15th July 2010 and amongst other issues on the agenda was a meeting with the management team. The Director took some time to introduce the management team working under him to the new Board Members. The Chairman, Prof. Richard Musangi promised that his Board would encourage team work between the management and the Board. He noted that the Board's policy decisions can only be implemented by management and therefore it was important that the two units work in tandem. He further said that the Board is looking for opportunities to meet the different cadres of staff so as to understand the challenges they face in executing their duties.