Kenya's premier Raila Odinga has said that Kenyan forests contribute 3.6 per cent of the country's GDP with annual economic benefits from the Mau forest complex alone standing at more thana billion dollar according to a 2009 study.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister for Forest and Wildlife Noah Wekesa during celebrations to mark the world environment day, Odinga said another study done in 2011 put annual economic benefits from the Aberdares range forests alone more than 600 million dollars. "With these figures in mind -he said-  it should be clear to everyone that the battle to conserve our forests is essential. Indeed, all our main economic sectors-agriculture, tourism and energy-depend extensively on the environment."