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

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

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”.

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

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.

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

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: 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)

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

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

10. 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

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

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

13. Thank you