The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said yesterday it was concerned about the risk of increasing deforestation in Kenya after the government announced its intention to clear forest land for settlement. Earlier this month Kenya's Environment Minister Francis Nyenze gave 28-days notice of intent to allocate 68,000 hectares (167,000 acres) of forest land in 14 locations around Mount Kenya, in the Rift Valley and in Western Kenya for settlement.