Loggers invade Aberdares

The Kenyan government has beefed up patrols inside Aberdare forest after loggers invaded over the last few months cutting down Red Cedar trees, an endangered species protected through a Presidential directive in 2007. Aberdares, Nyeri, Kenya. 07/01/2010. (Images taken between 5-7/01/2010)

The Kenyan government has beefed up patrols inside Aberdare forest after loggers invaded in the last few months.
The loggers are cutting Red cedar trees which are endangered species.
The tree is protected by the government through a Presidential directive in 2007.
The loggers are using pit saws to cut down the trees making it hard for the Kenya forest service officers to spot the destruction.
The trees are then ferried to nearby towns like Nyeri and sold to timberyard owners.
The Kenya forest service has the mandate to ensure forests are protected. However, they have been blamed for letting harders in the forest, who are believably wrecking havoc in the water catchment forest.
This comes at a time when the goverment has launched a tree planting campaign countrywide to increase the country's forest cover from the current 1.7 per cent.
Dozens of lorries, pickups and tractors full of Red cedar post are lying in police stations, kenya wildlife service and at the Kenya forest service services, an indication that logging is going on.
Kenya has five major water towers; the Mau is the largest. Others are Mt Kenya, Aberdares, Cherangany Hills and, Mt Elgon.