Baringo County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa has expressed concern over unregulated charcoal burning that has resulted in massive environmental degradation in the area.
He noted that environmental destruction occasioned by charcoal burning activities, among other factors like desertification and climate change has reached unprecedented levels that needed to be checked urgently.
Chairing this year’s World Desertification and Drought (WDD) day celebration planning committee meeting on Tuesday in Marigat held at Deputy County Commissioner’s office, Mr. Jaldesa noted that if not well checked the massive felling of trees for charcoal business will cause untold damage to the fragile forest ecosystem.
“The level of destruction is too much. Does it mean that there is no law in place governing harvesting of trees both in public and individual farms,” he noted.
Mr Abdirisack challenged the county government to take their responsibilities seriously and avoid turning a blind eye to the terrible situation.
This year’s National WDD commemoration will be held at Eldume areas in Baringo South constituency on June 17, 2022 and presided over by Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko.
Mr. Jaldesa said that it is said that over 200 boda boda operators, each carrying on average of 8 sacks of charcoal are seen heading to Nakuru city daily, a situation he described as terrible.
He pointed out that it was pointless to grow more trees in degraded areas which will be destroyed in a matter of time, adding that the heap of charcoal sacks being displayed along all major roads in the county is alarming.
The desertification and drought day is globally celebrated every year on June 17 to promote public awareness on ways to combat drought and this year’s theme is “Rising up from drought together”.
Recent drought experienced in the arid and semi-arid zones of the county led to the death of 3,766 livestock and about 266,713 people facing acute shortage of food and water.
During the national event to be attended by senior ministry and NEMA officials, local communities will show case their rich cultural and traditional heritage like songs, poems, dances and artifacts, while parastatals, state corporations and NGOs operating in the region will exhibit their products.
