Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) - Strategic Plan 1999–2003 -
Kenya Forestry Research Institute

Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) was established to undertake research and development in forestry and allied natural resources. The following are the mandate, mission, objectives and achievements of KEFRI.

Mandate

The mandate of KEFRI is to:

• Conduct research in forestry;
• Co-operate with other research bodies within and outside Kenya carrying out similar research;
• Liaise with other organizations and institutions of higher learning in training and on matters of forestry research; and
• Disseminate research findings.

Mission

To enhance the social and economic welfare of Kenyans through user-oriented research for sustainable development of forest and allied natural resources.

Objectives

• To generate technologies for farm forestry, natural forests, drylands forestry and forest plantations.
• To strengthen research capacity.
• To document and disseminate scientific information.

Achievements

KEFRI has established 17 research centres in the last 12 years in various ecological zones of Kenya. The headquarters is at Muguga

Two Social Forestry Training Centres have been established at Muguga and Kitui where, in the last ten years, over 2000 extension agents (from Kenya and beyond) have been trained.

• The Institute has acquired well-equipped laboratories and office buildings at Muguga, Kitui and Maseno.
• It has recently expanded it's Library facilities and has an uptodate Tree CDROM package.
• KEFRI has established a Tree Seed Centre with a network of seven seed collection subcentres in the country. The Seed Centre has over 1,000 ha of seed production stands and has an adequate capacity for training on seed technology. It has trained over 1,000 extension workers from Kenya and the African region on seed collection and handling. It has also published a Tree Seed Handbook of Kenya.
• KEFRI has developed methodologies for the establishment of exotic and indigenous tree species both under rainfed and irrigated conditions.
• It has also developed methodologies for the production of gums and resins.
• KEFRI has screened over 100 species/provenances for site/species marching and water harvesting techniques for improved tree survival and growth in dry areas.
• It has successfully introduced superior germplasm of Casuarina equesetifolia and Eucalyptus grandis.
• Working in collaboration with its research partners, the Institute has integrated Leucaena diversifolia, L. leucocephala, Grevillea robusta, Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium and Sesbania sesban in farming systems thereby improving crop, fuelwood and fodder yields on the farms.
• Tolerant strains of Cupressus lusitanica (cypress) to cypress aphid have been identified.
• KEFRI has produced over 40 technical guidelines for use by extension officers, forest managers, NGOs, farmers and schools. Among these are:A dryland forestry manual.
• A guideline for the conservation and management of Populus ilicifolia.
• Guidelines for the management and production of bamboo.
• A guideline for extraction of gums and resins.
• Capacity building of scientists has been strengthened. To date, out of a total of 95 graduate scientists, the Institute has 62 trained to Msc and PhD levels while 25 are either on Msc or PhD training.

[ Contents ]