Role of Farm Forestry in Kenya

1. Role of Farm Forestry in Kenya Presented during KFWG Monthly Meeting 27th May 2016. Edwin Kamau www.ffspak.org

2. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • 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

3. 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

4. FF-SPAK • 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 www.ffspak.org

5. 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. www.ffspak.org

6. 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 but also with environmental and social benefits www.ffspak.org

7. 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) www.ffspak.org

8. Role of Farm Forestry • 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 • 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 www.ffspak.org

9. Role of Farm Forestry • 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 www.ffspak.org

10. Opportunities for Farm Forestry • Critical mass of framers willing to venture into tree farming- Awareness is high (Mitimingimashambani, 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

11. Challenges in Farm Forestry • Policy and institutional • - restrictions on timber trade - land and resource tenure - PPP investment framework • Knowledge and technological • - quality germplasm - tree nursery management - silvi-culural practices (Linkage between Research inst, extensionists and producers) • Economic - incentives • - 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 www.ffspak.org

12. Conclusion • Farm forestry is very crucial in both rural and urban economies • Holds immense potential in • Increasing and diversifying incomes • Climate change adaptation • Sustainable energy supply • Economic growth • Need for concerted efforts among stakeholders to create a vibrant farm forestry landscape www.ffspak.org

13. Thank you www.ffspak.org