Nairobi — The issue of the Mau took a new turn on Thursday as ambassadors and high commissioners meeting in Mombasa's South Coast decided to take time off their programme to discuss it at length.

In a statement read out by Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula, the envoys undertook to contribute 50,000 trees valued at Sh500,000 towards the government fund for the rehabilitation of the Mau.

Their resolve was read contained in a terse briefing titled "Resolution of the 15th biennial ambassadors/high commissioners conference on the protection and conservation of the Mau for future generation."

The envoys, who have been holding a seven-day conference at the Leisure Lodge Resort in Ukunda , also undertook to sensitise the international community and Kenyans in the disapora on the importance of the Mau to Kenya's ecosystem.

Apart from the contribution, the envoys also gave an undertaking to mobilize resources from the diaspora and other international partners to support government efforts in the restoration of the eco system.

The Foreign Minister also weighed in saying that "there is no question about people living in the Mau, they have to move out immediately and unconditionally".

Kenya, he revealed, has also entered into an agreement with Brazil to plant trees in the affected areas in the Mau, and Sh$25million has already been secured to go towards reafforestation efforts in the country as a whole.

He said that Canada and Japan, for example, have forest cover of between 10-20% yet the Kenyan cover has dropped to slightly under one per cent.

"It will be very hard to sell Kenya as a major tourist destination if major rivers that contribute to the Mara ecosystem dry out because of the devastation wrought on the ecosystem," Mr Wetangula said during the press briefing.

With globalisation, there is no way the country can run awa y from the need to protect the environment since issues of climate change are global matters.

The Minister also said that there is increasing realization and awareness that environmental conservation is key to sustainable development. The indispensable need to conserve and protect water towers for the benefit of existing and future generations, he added, cannot be gainsaid.

Mr Wetangula said the Kenyan government is currently pushing for a partnership with the government of Tanzania for the conservation of Mt Kilimanjaro. Negotiations are already ongoing, he said.

The envoys are due to have an interaction with Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday over the national accord and the twin issues of the local tribunal and the ongoing establishment of the truth and reconciliation commission headed by Bethwell Kiplagat.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to close the seven-day biennial conference on Friday.