NAIROBI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has banned the export of wood veneer in a bid to protect its forests and expand its tree cover to 30 percent by 2032.
Aden Duale, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, said in a statement released Tuesday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that the move is a measure to support the country's landscape and ecosystem restoration.
"By halting the export of raw veneer, the government intends to curb the practice of harvesting immature trees, ensuring that trees are allowed to mature and contribute effectively to the national restoration goals," Duale said.
He said Kenya is committed to achieving the 30 percent tree cover and restoring its degraded landscapes and ecosystems through a 10-year National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, a framework to grow 15 billion trees in 10 years.
Duale added that the ban would safeguard the country's environmental future and inspire various stakeholders to join in the goal.
Kenya has 2.49 million hectares of gazetted forests, which consist of pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees, supplying 31.4 million cubic meters of timber annually. ■
