Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) - Strategic Plan 1999–2003 - Development and Challenges of Forestry Research in Kenya

Background

Prior to establishment of KEFRI, forestry research in Kenya was undertaken by various units and organisations. A forestry research unit in Kenya was started in 1934 within the Forest Department. The unit later became a Research Branch which undertook research focusing on silviculture, forest entomology, forest pathology and wood utilization. In 1948, East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organization (EAAFRO) was established with a Forestry Division which addressed regional forestry problems common to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The priority research areas in forestry were tree breeding, silviculture, utilization, pathology, entomology and catchment hydrology. In 1973, the Research Branch of Forest Department was upgraded to Conservancy of Forests Research Services. Following the collapse of the East African Community and hence EAAFRO in 1977, the Government of Kenya decided to establish statutory bodies to take-over the research functions of the Community. The Science and Technology Act, Chapter 250 was enacted in 1979. Under this Act, KARI was established in July 1981. The Conservancy of Forestry Research Services was subsequently transferred from the Forest Department to KARI and merged with the Forestry Division of EAAFRO to form Forestry Research Department (FRD). In 1986, KEFRI was established as an independent research institution from KARI.

Challenges

Accelerated Deforestation

Forestry in Kenya faces a number of challenges which are closely linked to rapid human population growth. The limited area of gazetted forest land, estimated at approximately 2.8% of the total land area, is decreasing at a fast rate due to pressure from agricultural expansion and settlement. Out of the remaining area of closed-canopy forests estimated at 1.2 million ha, about 240,000 ha will be lost in the next twenty five years. Large areas of the remaining natural forests have also been over-exploited and degraded through selective cutting. The area under industrial forest plantations is also expected to decrease from the present 164,000 ha to about 80,000 ha by the year 2020. Woodlands and bushlands in the drylands, covering approximately 38 million ha or 60% of the total land area, are also under great pressure from sedentarisation of pastoralists and migration of people from high potential areas. Annual loss of the woody vegetation in the drylands is approximately 19,000 ha. The loss of forest cover and other types of woody vegetation will lead to increasing scarcity of a wide range of forest products, environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. In order to achieve sustainable land use systems, socio-economic problems contributing to deforestation will need to be addressed by the forestry sector. Implementation of policy and legal instruments necessary for proper conservation of forests are largely inadequate and will need to be addressed.

Gaps Between Supply and Dmand of Forest Products

The supply and demand of wood products (timber, pulpwood, poles and fuelwood) shows that the country is able to meet its wood requirements up to the turn of the century. According to the Kenya Forest Master Plan wood supply in Kenya was approximately 28 million m³in 1994 while the demand was about 26 million m^3.. From the middle of the next decade, however, the increases in total wood supplies will not keep pace with the increases in wood demand. By the year 2020, wood demand is projected to be about 45 million m³ while the supply will be about 38 million m³ giving a wood deficit of 7.0 million m³. The deficit, which will manifest itself mainly in fuelwood, will lead to further deforestation and environmental degradation.

Although the country has the potential to be self-sufficient in industrial wood, the current harvesting policies are not geared towards sustainable supply. Presently, there is over-harvesting of immature crops in more accessible areas. Large clearfelled areas have also not been replanted. The future supply of industrial wood from large-scale plantations is therefore uncertain and urgent measures ought to be taken to improve plantation management and develop alternative sources. There are potentials of increasing production of industrial wood from farmlands and this will need to be explored.

Inadequate Development of Farm Forestry

Over the last three decades, rapid population growth has resulted in land scarcity in high potential areas. Many small-scale farmers cannot afford high prices of inorganic fertilizers and this has contributed to decline in crop production. The expansion of agricultural activities in semi-arid areas and using inappropriate farming practices have increased deforestation and land degradation. Trees in farmlands play an important role not only in production of fuelwood and poles, but also in maintenance of agricultural productivity. Farm forestry research should, therefore, be developed to accelerate the current pace of tree planting, improve the management of trees on-farm and stimulate income generation from tree products to alleviate poverty. Implementation of policy and legal instruments necessary for proper development of farm forestry are largely inadequate and will need to be addressed.

Weak Impact of Research on Forestry Development

Sustainable forest management depends on application of science in generating improved technologies.

Forestry research holds a pivotal role in forestry development, management and conservation, by developing and generating technologies necessary for enhanced forest management. Central to this is the need for development of linkages with national and international organizations, enhanced participation of stakeholders and supporting formulation of policy and legal framework to be in harmony with land use systems.

Inadequate Research and Development Capacity

Capacity to undertake forestry research, management and planning lags behind agricultural sub-sector. In particular, attention is needed to improve capacity for research development and implementation, Research and Development in farm forestry, extension approach and information dissemination.

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