The contribution of the forestry sector in Kenya to the socio-economic development cannot be overstated. It also important to highlight the fact that the sector has myriad of challenges ,though it has always mitigated against it through a raft of actions. Though no scientific evidence exists, we postulate that the magnitude of the impacts emanating from the Corona Virus pandemic to the forest sector when viewed in totally could over run its innate resilience. This observation is supported by several interconnected actions and responses aimed at managing the Virus.
Since the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in the country, the sector is already feeling the impacts from scale down of forestry operations and in some cases complete halting of forestry activities like in training and learning. In fact, the training institutions in the country were closed in mid- March. The decision came as a preventative measure to protect the students from contracting the virus. The net effect of that action is delayed release of skilled manpower into the sector and that impacts on the human resource capital available to the sector.
As the pandemic management continues, several businesses and organizations are winding up leading to jobs losses. Thus, increasing the number of unemployed people in the society and this situation predisposes the natural resources like forests to over exploitation. Infact, there are heighten levels of illegal activities in the forests as explained by the Chief Conservator of Forests to one media house. These activities will ultimately undermine the government effort aimed at increasing the country’s tree cover to at least 10% by 2022. Before the pandemic, more organizations and institutions were seen collaborating with the forest service and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in tree planting and restoration activities. Due to the economic difficulties presented by the virus coupled with government directives on public gathering and social distances, those activities have drastically dropped.
The Corona virus has not spared the production and trade of forest products. The forest- based industries, like most industries in the country have been affected through less operation hours. Additionally, despite the listing of forest services and products as essential services, the low consumption levels of products when coupled with ban on logging in public and community forests have yielded incredibly low sales and revenues to businesses. The economic crisis associated with Covid-19 is already affecting the availability of public and private investment in the sector. The economic uncertainties are pushing companies towards loss making and most people are liquating their investment to access cash to manage the pandemic. The sector is already impacted though the magnitude cannot be precisely ascertained. We urge the government and players within the sector to develop and implement a robust mitigation plan to safeguard the sector from collapse.
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