Kenya Forest Growers Association roots for commercial forestry

By ABIGAEL SUM

NAIROBI: Kenya Forest Growers Association (KEFGA) is calling for the inclusion of commercial forestry in the Forest Bill, due for debate in Parliament.

KEFGA Secretary General Benson Kanyi said the law has mainly been driven by conservation of natural forests and limited state forests and private commercial forestry were hardly recognised.

He reiterated that commercial tree growing offers a viable solution to deforestation and unemployment in rural areas due to its low outlays.

Kanyi explained that private investment in forests not only assures land owners a return on their investment but would also secure Kenya’s energy sustainability, improve the trade balance by reducing imports of wood products and enhance the rural livelihoods through job creation.

“Every hectare of forest planted, creates three jobs. So far the association has invested Sh1.2 billion and created 30,000 jobs,” he said. “Commercial forestry not only has economic benefits but also contributes to conservation by reducing pressure on natural forests as well as enhancing the increase of forest cover towards achievement of the 10 per cent recommended cover.”

The Forest Policy and Forest Act, 2005 are due for review to align them with the new Constitution as well as to address the realities in the marketplace.

KEFGA members hope that commercial forestry can be recognised and incorporated in the governance structures of the forestry sub-sector.

The association argues that even though conservation is a worthy course, it cannot fully provide a lasting solution to deforestation, given that during the 2008-2012 period the demand for wood in the country increased by 70 per cent. This, he said, translated to an increase in the cutting down of indigenous trees whose main purpose is to protect water catchment areas and the general well-being of the environment.

“The demand for wood in the country is quite high for both household and industrial use,” he said.