The Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr. Alex Lemarkoko held discussions in his office with officers from Traffic International East Africa and Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) on the piloting of a timber tracking system in Kenya to enhance chain of custody and traceability of timber products in the country. This is following the introduction of a similar system in Tanzania that has seen the country improve the management of timber products from public forests through avoidance of illegal activities and increase in the recovery of revenue from the same.
The CCF noted that there was need for the two countries which engage in significant trade in timber to utilise technology and other surveillance innovations to control the sale of timber and other forest products. He further noted that Tanzania had been a major exporter of timber to Kenya especially during the moratorium on harvesting of timber products. He said the collaboration between the two countries will also help to prevent the trade in endangered tree species such as sandalwood.
The officers from TFS led by the ICT Manager Mr. Harold Chipamba demonstrated how they track timber in the country and the benefits it had brought about in terms of prevention of illegal activities. He also agreed that collaboration between Kenya and Tanzania would help to seal all the loopholes being used by unscrupulous traders deal in illegally harvested timber.
The two officers agreed to form a technical team that will work together to actualise the process that will lead to seamless collaboration on the matter. Other officers present during the meeting were the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests for Drylands Forests Dr. Clement Ng’oriareng’, Senior Conservator of Forests Jennifer Sifuna as well as Bakari Sheghembe TFS and William Mallya from Traffic among other officers.
