Kenyan President William Ruto has announced the lifting of a logging ban that has been in effect since 2018, despite concerns from environmental organizations.

Ruto justified the decision during a church service in Molo, stating that it was necessary to create jobs and open businesses, as mature trees were going to waste while locals suffered due to a lack of timber. Despite positioning himself as a leader in the fight against climate change, Ruto plans to maintain the government’s goal of planting 15 billion trees over the next decade.

However, Greenpeace Africa warns that lifting the ban could have severe environmental consequences, as forests in Kenya are home to rare species and serve as a vital resource for local communities. The ban, initially imposed to combat illegal logging and increase the country’s forest cover to 10%, has contributed 1.6% to Kenya’s economy in 2022, while the current forest cover stands at 8.8%.