§ 15. Commander SOUTHBYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to prevent unneces- 584 sary deforestation in Kenya Colony, observing that one of the best safeguards against locust plagues is considered by some authorities to lie in the preservation of natural woodlands, and that rainfall is directly influenced by the presence of trees; what schemes of reafforestation are being carried out in Kenya Colony; and whether the piece of Government forest known as Kaniki Forest, in the neighbourhood of Kahawa, is to be destroyed in spite of the protests of the local inhabitants?
§ Mr. AMERYAn account of the work of the Forest Department in Kenya is given in the Annual Report of the Department for the year 1927, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House. That Report shows that a policy of forest regeneration and reafforestation is being actively pursued; and I understand that the importance of establishing a scientific basis for future work founded on a more accurate knowledge of the Colony's forest resources is fully realised. I have received no report from the Colony of any proposal for the destruction of Kaniki Forest.