Kenya’s forests and community ownership

Tree cover in Kenya now stands above target at 12.13 percent according to the National Forest Resources Assessment (NFRA) Report 2021. Among the factors that contributed to the attainment of the 10 percent target was the reclamation of over 55,000 hectares of encroached forest land across the country.

Kenya’s forest cover is currently at 8.83 percent up from 5.9 percent in 2018. However, forest cover is unevenly distributed across the country, with the central region, parts of the western and the coast being the most forested parts of the country. Nyeri has a staggering 45 percent. While at the other end Marsabit has just 2 percent forest cover.

Role of forests

Forests provide essential goods and services such as wildlife habitat, biological diversity, water catchment, climate amelioration, support construction industry, fuelwood, employment opportunities and livelihood sources. Forests and trees play multiple functions in contributing to the livelihoods of communities, especially that of women and marginal groups, in supplying food and rural energy. However, these forests are threatened with agricultural expansion, over-exploitation and unsustainable use of forest resources. Population increase and widespread youth unemployment have led to increased pressure on forest resources.

Between 1980 and 2000, Kenya lost nearly 50% of its forest cover. Some 300,000 hectares of forest were destroyed due to intensive logging, charcoal production and large-scale clearance of wooded areas for tea plantations.

Connection with forest

I was born in a community adjacent to the forest, about 3 kilometres from the edge. In my young age we could identify with the beauty of natural forest canopy every time an opportunity arose to visit the forest. Forest cover outside the gazetted forest was quite high, supporting clean rivers and streams. While in lower primary school we used to learn up to lunch hour and in the afternoons, we used take the livestock for grazing in the areas that were not cultivated. This gave us quality time to explore nature and interact with surrounding ecosystems. This is what attracted me to the forestry sector; my love of nature. I have grown a passion for environmental issues as they are key to the survival of mankind.

Changes in forest management approach

Forest cover and management has changed over time in Kenya. Prior to 1895 when Kenya was declared a British Protectorate, forest cover was very high, as few areas had been converted to agriculture and settlements. Forests were controlled through a system of traditional rules and rights with resources belonging to individual indigenous communities who governed them using traditional systems. For most communities, the rules were enforced by a council of elders, who through sanctions and fines, ensured the sustainable use of communal tree and forest resources. The population was quite low with families having expansive areas that they could use for agriculture and pasture for animals, leaving most areas under natural vegetation. Communities would get all their fuelwood supplies from the trees within their landscape. Forests were then considered to be part and parcel of the community landscape.

Forest conversion in Kenya began with introduction of cash crops like coffee and tea, when large tracts of land were cleared to create space for the crops. Land partitions that introduced private ownership of land contributed to further destruction. The emergence of towns and cities increased demand for forest products for construction and wood fuel. As this continued, the traditional governance system was eroded, weakening norms and the taboos associated with forest destruction. indigenous communities who governed them using traditional systems. For most communities, the rules were enforced by a council of elders, who through sanctions and fines, ensured the sustainable use of communal tree and forest resources.

The introduction of forest plantations around 1910 led to more conversions of natural forest. Forests that were seen as a community resource started having a commercial value and only a few individuals could get into the forest and make an income out of selling forest produce. Gazettement of forests led to the exclusion of communities in forest management and led to the adoption of command-and-control management approach. This contributed to the loss of community ownership as they felt that forest resources belonged to state.

Between 1980 and 2000, Kenya lost nearly 50% of its forest cover. Some 300,000 hectares of forest were destroyed due to