5. FOREST AREA BY NATURALNESS
Reference year: 1999
|
Forest type (local classification) |
Undisturbed (000 ha) |
Semi-natural (000 ha) |
|
1.Indigneous Forests |
900, |
270 |
|
2. Plantation Forests |
13.4 |
13.4 |
|
3. Woodlands/bushlands |
3,715 |
3,715 |
|
4.Farmlands /settlements |
1,002 |
1,002 |
Source: Kenya Forestry Master Plan Document (KFMP 1994)
The figures referred above are estimates from actual areas under each category of local forest classification. It was assumed that only 10 % of the total area under each classification are either undisturbed or semi-natural. The 10 % estimate was based on authors prior informed knowledge and many years of observance on the disturbance status in each of the forest types.
The areas referred to are derived from data in the Kenya Forestry Master plan development programme and are projected figures from trends observed in area change over the period 1992-1994 and projected over a 20-year period.
Some of the factors used for forecasting have changed e.g. there is already a new change of management which has reduced drastically the rate of conversion of natural forests from the original anticipated figure of 5000 ha per year to only re-planting clear-felled plantations.
The latest area under plantation forests from year 2000 indicates a total area of 120,000 ha on industrial plantations of which about 40,000 ha is not replanted, and therefore disturbed.
5.1. Forest area by wood supply potential
Country: KENYA Reference year: 2000
|
Natural forest type (country classification) |
Forests available for wood supply (000 ha) |
Forests not available for wood supply (000 ha) |
|
1 .Indigenous Forests |
NIL |
1200 |
|
2 Plantations. |
160 |
NIL |
|
3.Woodlands/bushlands |
NIL |
NIL |
|
4. Farmlands/Settlements |
1 |
NIL |
|
All forest types |
161.0 |
1200 |
References: KFMP 1994
Comments:
The areas are based on the assumption that all indigenous forests in Kenya are for conservation purposes for water shed and recreation and biodiversity conservation. They are currently not in any management plans for round wood utilisation. The industrial plantations offer the scope for round wood production but currently are not fully being utilised for this purpose for it is only about 78,000 ha which are currently stocked. Farmlands and settlements are assumed to have a high potential of round wood supply but again only 10 % of the total area is available. The remaining area is either under boundary planting ornamental, natural regeneration or fodder/Agroforestry practices.
Country: KENYA Reference year: 1999
|
Forest land in public ownership (000 ha) |
Forest land owned by indigenous/tribal peoples (000 ha)/Private |
Forest land in private ownership (000 ha) |
|
1640 |
180 |
- |
Source: Kenya’s Indigenous Forests, Status, Management and Conservation (1995)
The total forest land area outside gazetted forests is either owned by county councils who manage them in trust from the local communities who are the beneficiaries and the privately owned forests owned by private companies like tea factories, tannin extracting companies. The total area under this private ownership is estimated to be about 70,000 ha.
5.3. Area of forest under management
Country: KENYA Reference year: 2000
|
Forest type (using country classification) |
Total area |
Area under management1 |
|
1.Indigenous Forests |
1.2 Million ha |
NIL |
|
2.Plantations |
120,000 |
120,000 |
|
3.Woodlands/bushlands |
37,150 |
Nil |
|
4.Farmlands /settlements |
10,020 |
Nil |
Area under management is defined here as the forest that is managed in accordance with a formal, nationally approved, management plan over a sufficiently long period (five years or more)
Source: Kenya Forestry Master Plan (Development Programmes) (1994)
