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The Nation (Nairobi)
Accessed at http://allafrica.com/stories/200801180277.html
18 January 2008
Posted to the web 18 January 2008
Nairobi
More than 2,000 exotic and indigenous trees worth more than Sh1.2 million have been destroyed by illegal loggers.
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Bomet District forest officer William Cheptoo said the loggers had taken advantage of the post-election violence to deplete the Chepalungu government gazetted forest.
He explained that the forest was left unguarded after forest guards fled.
Three months ago, members of the local community said to have opposed the conservation of the forest, invaded Chelelach forest station, which is part of the expansive Chepalungu forest block, and killed a forest guard.
Speaking to journalists in his Bomet town office Thursday, Mr Cheptoo said the loggers were extracting timber and fencing poles from the felled trees.
More than 100,000 tree seedlings planted six months ago were uprooted, he added.
The forester appealed to the local community to stop the destruction.