The trees are among the natural resources that are valuable to both animals and human beings. However, man has never thought of sustainable harvesting for these key tree species leading to adverse environmental changes.
In this regard, CARE International in Kenya has conducted community sensitizations workshops in three targeted sub-counties in Mandera County which show perception changed in how people view the importance of trees and general environmental protection and management. Community members drawn from different locations deliberated on the causes of the destruction of key tree species and land degradation.
- 80 % of world’s forest have been destroyed or irreparably degraded by human activities like illegal logging of trees thus leading to global and climate change.
- Desertification, prolonged drought and other harsh climatic shocks facing humanity are as a result of climate change inflicted by human beings themselves.
- Among the root causes of climate change is the destruction of key tree species in Mandera county.
- For instance, local trees known as ‘Mader /Marer’ and Acacia trees are becoming extinct!
During the consultative workshop held in Banisa Sub-county on 30th August, 2018, Samow states that tress are source of livelihood for the people of Tarama location. Despite the fact that they are getting environmental, medicinal and economical benefit, destruction of trees and land degradation are caused by the locals themselves. Among the cause of these are poverty, illiteracy, population pressure, missing implementation of laid down policy on deforestations, charcoal burning and use of land for settlements.
Charcoal burning is one of the lucrative businesses where most of the local community members living across the border with low income earnings have resorted to in supplying households in Mandera County as a source of energy for cooking/preparing food. This habit has indeed led to destruction of key species like acacia. During this reporting quarter, we interviewed a charcoal dealer from Neboi location in Mandera town who did not want to reveal his details. He stated that he normally burns Acacia trees which produces the best charcoal to earn his living. He has readily available clients he supplies to. He also disclosed to us that he has been doing this business for close to 20 years and it has really helped him to earn for living, providing food for his family and paying school fees for his children. However he is not recognizing the destruction he is causing to the environment. After lengthy discussions on the environmental degradation and challenges caused by such destructive means and existing alternative uses of ‘Prosopis’ which will help him continue earning his livelihood and contribute to environmental conservation, he positively responded to our request and advise to try and resort to the use of Prosopis trees which are invasive species and abundant in his Neboi location instead of the acacia trees. He will be among one of the target beneficiaries generating income through alternative uses of invasive species.