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Role of Farm Forestry in Kenya
Presented during KFWG Monthly
Meeting
27th May 2016.
Edwin Kamau
www.ffspak.org
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
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FF-SPAK (An Overview)
Forestry in Kenya
Historical context of farm forestry
Role of Farm Forestry
Opportunities for Farm forestry
Challenges
Conclusion
www.ffspak.org
FF-SPAK (An overview)
• Registered in 2013 as an umbrella organization to work with
grassroots organizations in Kenya to promote and champion
the interests of farm forestry smallholders
• 7 Affiliate associations across the country with about 12,000
members and recruitment is ongoing.
• Vision Statement: -“An outstanding farm forestry umbrella
organization providing quality services to smallholder
producer organizations in Kenya”
• Mission Statement: -“To strengthen the capacity of member
organizations to enable farm forestry producers improve their
livelihoods”.
www.ffspak.org
FF-SPAK
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Organizational Objectives
To facilitate exchange of experiences and information and encourage networking
among farm forest producers associations.
• To provide for a voice for Kenyan forest policies, laws and regulations from a farm
forestry perspective.
• Capacity building for member associations and awareness creation on farm
forestry
• To promote farm forestry, to increase the number of trees at household level and
the conservation and sustainable utilization of forests in Kenya.
• To promote commercialization of farm forestry in order to increase income levels
and improve rural livelihoods.
• To promote and defend the rights and common Interests of farm forest owners
• To advocate for periodic valuation and monitoring of forest resources
• To mobilize resources from members, financial agencies and donors for both
community and small holder projects
• The Society has non-political objects
 Partners – We Effect, FAO, Agricord, IFFA, IIED, KFS, FAN
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Farm Forestry (Meaning)
The establishment and management of trees
on farms by farmers for, amongst other things,
commercial production. It is Intentional,
integrated, intensive and interactive.
Farm Forestry enables farmers improve
agricultural production, control land
degradation, enhance biodiversity and
diversify income sources.
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Historical Context
 There are three distinct agro-ecological, zonal classifications in
Kenya; high-potential, medium-potential (Wood lots and
agroforestry) and low-potential (silvopastoralism). \
 Before independence, high and medium potential areas were
well forested (Naturally). These were cleared to expand
agricultural land. In 70’s and 80’s incentives were given to
farmers to plant trees (helped by secure tenure). A lot of
social and economic benefits were have come from this
 Low potential areas (With less secure tenure) have seen tree
resources depleted at a fast rate.
 Lately, farm forestry is seen more in the perspective of
increasing incomes butwww.ffspak.org
also with environmental and social
benefits
Forestry in Kenya
•Forested area covers 3.47 million ha (6 % of the total land
area): FAO (2010)
–Wood products supply
–Trees on farms: 14.6 million M3
–Commercial forest types: 3.5 million M3
–Natural forest types: 12.6 million M3
•Contributes 3.6% to GDP excluding charcoal and direct
subsistence use : Forest policy (2014)
•80% of the national wood supply goes to meeting national
energy demand fuel wood
•Kenya is a wood deficit country (current deficit of 12 m3)
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Role of Farm Forestry
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Trees on farms, provide wood and poles for construction,
fence posts, fuelwood and charcoal, not to mention fruit,
fodder, medicines, gums and resin, all for home
consumption and/or sale
Growing population is exerting a lot of pressure on natural
resources. Agricultural expansion leading to dwindling forest
resources
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Forests will no longer be able to meet the rising demand for wood
and non-wood products.
This will drive the demand for Trees outside forests and Farm (social)
forestry will become the keystone of tree resources
Fixed gazzeted forest areas – Expansion can only occur on
farms
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Role of Farm Forestry
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Fuel wood Supply is a food security issue – Households use ¼
of their income on energy- mostly for cooking
Livelihoods improvement and poverty alleviation- Trees are
an income earner
Environmental services- Carbon sinks-climate change,
Aesthetic value, Protection against land degradation,
Increased agricultural productivity – Fertilizer trees, fodder
National Economic growth
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Opportunities for Farm Forestry
 Critical mass of framers willing to venture into tree
farming- Awareness is high (Miti mingi mashambani,
Promotion of agroforestry), Associations
 There is supportive policy environment to spur increased
wood production and development of community and farm
forestry – Forest Act
 Devolution - County govts in charge of community and
farm forestry extension
 Large unfulfilled market- Domestic and industrial Energy,
Construction boom
 Technology and expertise present in most parts
 Easy Access to inputs: Seedlings etc
 Minimum care
www.ffspak.org
Challenges in Farm Forestry
 Policy and institutional
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- restrictions on timber trade - land and resource tenure
investment framework
- PPP
 Knowledge and technological
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- quality germplasm - tree nursery management - silvi-culural practices
(Linkage between Research inst, extensionists and producers)
Economic - incentives
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- credit facilities
- processing/value addition
- markets (Skewed VC
with producers exploited – Producers not well organized)
 Socio-cultural  gender equity - youth involvement
- rights for indigenous communities
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Conclusion
 Farm forestry is very crucial in both rural and
urban economies
 Holds immense potential in
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Increasing and diversifying incomes
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable energy supply
Economic growth
 Need for concerted efforts among
stakeholders to create a vibrant farm forestry
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landscape
Thank you
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