Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Roselinda Soipan Tuya on February 28, 2023, oversaw the destruction of 13.5 tonnes of sandalwood.
The brief ceremony was held at the DCI Headquarters where the CS was the chief guest.
The woods which are extracted from endangered species of trees around the country’s forests were seized during various sting operations in Samburu County.
While making her remarks, the CS said that the exercise is very symbolic and acts to demonstrate the commitment and teamwork of the various stakeholders present to break illicit networks that continuously seek to benefit from the growing illicit trade of sandalwood and its products.
The CS also noted that the global demand for wood oil had led to the creation of an expansive illicit network of traffickers who seek to exploit community and KFS-managed forests to harvest the woods.
Further, the Cabinet Secretary maintained that the harvest of sandalwood was banned by the Government in 2007, adding that despite the ban, the overexploitation of the tree had continued to prevail.
In that view, the CS noted that the public burning of the woods indicated the commitment by multi-stakeholders including the KFS, DCI, ODPP, Judiciary and the KWS against the destruction of forests through illegal sandalwood harvesting in community forests.
Endangered Species
On his part, the DCI Director Mohamed Amin said that the East African Sandalwood is listed within the Wildlife Conservation and Management Sixth Schedule as an Endangered Species, adding that it is the same status as the White Rhino, African Elephant and Blue Whale.
Amin further noted that the DCI appreciated the need for multi-agency cooperation and collaboration in the fight against wildlife, forestry and fisheries crimes in Kenya, and acknowledged that no institution can single-handedly manage this fight.
The DCI appealed to members of the public to continue sharing information with us through our Fichua hotline number 0800 722 203.
