Pubdate: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya) Copyright: 2003 The East African Standard Contact: http://www.eastandard.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743 Author: Marceline Nyambala Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) LOGGING CURBED IN MT KENYA FOREST Mount Kenya residents may benefit from a multi-million shilling scheme from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) following a decline in destructive activities in the forest, including logging and cultivation of marijuana. This follows the launch of a report on the Changes in the state of conservation of Mt Kenya forests: 1999-2002 revealing a marked improvement in activities around the catchment area. The study reveals that the levels of destructive activities, including logging of indigenous trees had significantly decreased since1999, falling by 93 per cent. Camphor logging had reduced by 96 per cent. The number of recorded charcoal kilns has gone down by 62 per cent from 547 in 1999 to 205 in 2002. Marijuana cultivation had decreased from 31 hectares a in 1999 to 5.8 hectares in 2002. Speaking during the launch of the report on Thurday night, environmetal conservation minister Newton Kulundu urged the forest department and KWS not to relent in their efforts. He said this in a speech read by his assistant, Prof Wangari Mathai. United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) Executive Director, Klaus Toepfer, reacting to the results of the survey, said the results showed there was the will to address environment and development issues. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl