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Deforestation in Kenya describes deforestation in Kenya. In 1963, forest covered 10% of land in Kenya and by 2006 that dropped to 1.7%.
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The Kenya Forestry Working Group has estimated that Kenya will lose ca US$300 million each year by deforestation from the tourism, tea and energy sectors.
Forest importance
Forests are basis of water catchments in Kenya. Their destruction increases pressure on a population grappling with hunger, water shortage, and power shortage. Forests are important for protecting ecological diversity, regulating climate patterns and acting as carbon sinks. According to Nobelist Wangari Maathai 20 per cent of global warming emissions may be due to deforestation.
Mau Forest case in 2009
In 2009 in Kenya’s Rift Valley 400,000 hectare (ha) Mau Forest was destroyed. Between 2004 and 2006 more than 100,000 people were forcibly evicted from their homes in forested areas in Kenya. In August 2009 Kenya Forestry Service issued a 14-day eviction notice on people living in the Mau Forest, which was overturned by the ex prime minister, Raila Odinga.