This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Published on July 17, 2019, Kenya Forest Service has made significant strides in empowering communities in forest management. Chief Conservator Julius Kamau disclosed that the service has signed over 150 Participatory Forest Management Plans and about 90 Forest Management Agreements.
The agreements provide a framework for Community Forest Associations to co-manage forest resources and benefit from forest-related enterprises such as bee-keeping, eco-tourism, and others. One notable example is Karura Forest, which is managed by Kenya Forest Service in partnership with Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (CFA). This partnership demonstrates how communities can participate in sustainable forest management and reap real benefits like employment for youth and other user rights meant to empower communities.
Chief Conservator Kamau emphasized the importance of community participation in forest management, citing the Forest Conservation and Management Act, which provides for communities to participate in the management of forests and draw benefits from their conservation efforts. This initiative was highlighted during an event at Karura Forest in Nairobi, where Chief Secretary Keriako Tobiko led a delegation from the Regional Dialogue On Indigenous People and Southern Civil Society Organizations for a tree planting session. The delegation planted 240 trees.
