Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

160 The woodcarving industry in Kenya

Year

1957

1962

1962

1968

1970

1970

1976

1980

1981

1986

1990

1994

Legislation

First forest

policy drafted

Forest Act,

Cap 385

Trust Land Act,

Cap 288

National Forest

Policy (first

session paper)

Revision of the

Trust Land Act,

Cap 288

Chief’s Authority

Act, Cap 128

The Wildlife Act,

Cap 376

The Agriculture

Act, Cap 318

National Food

Policy (fourth

session paper)

Presidential ban

on logging of

indigenous

timber

The wildlife

policy

Revised Forest

Policy

Potential impact on woodcarving industry

Provides for government involvement in all commercial wood sectors.

Enforced by the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, it

addresses reservation, protection, management, enforcement and

utilization of forest resources on government lands by mechanisms

such as organized licensing, setting of royalty rates and sale of

Brachylaena and other hardwoods within natural forests.

Enforced by the Minister for Local Government, it controls unauthorized

occupation and utilization of trees on land not covered by Forest Act;

allows controlled use of Dalbergia, Combretum and others on trust

land.

Formulated 10 principles for forest management for the greatest

common good and on sustained yield basis. Annual extraction quantities

for Brachylaena and other species in state forests could easily have

been worked out. Extraction now is based on impression of local officers.

Requires authorization of District Commissioner or other persons

designated by the Local or Urban Councils to grant licenses for extraction

of natural resources on trust lands. Has been greatly abused, leading

to uncontrolled poaching of prime species on trust lands in many areas.

Controls use of tree resources on private land and prohibits destruction

of vegetation and wasteful use of trees and other products. Low

penalties for violations resulted in widespread depletion of Dalbergia

and other major species on private lands.

Conservation of forests within National Parks, Games Reserves and

Sanctuaries and other forest areas is covered under the memorandum

of understanding between Forest Department and Kenya Wildlife

Service.

Implemented by Provincial and District Agricultural Committees and

Boards, it is meant to prevent destruction of natural vegetation on

private land and loss of habitat of important species through bush and

tree clearing, but is rarely put into practice.

Underlines the role of forests and trees in climate stabilization and

other ecological significance. While sections of the law restrict tree

cutting and encourage conservation, the government often goes against

this purpose through sanctioning of forest excisions to settle people on

the same land meant for conservation.

Completely bans felling of indigenous trees in Kenya with little or no

alternatives, triggering a ripple effect of depletion of resources because

of artificial resource shortages. No legislation exists to back its

implementation.

The policy specifies non-consumptive use of forest resources through

benefit sharing of revenue for recreation between the government

and local communities. Implementation of the policy in late 1990s has

to led to decreased extraction of Brachylaena from Arabuko Sokoke

forest.

Addresses new concerns and realities by envisaging greater involvement

of local communities and other stakeholders in management decisions

of forest and natural resources, benefit sharing, private investments

in tree growing, non-consumptive use of forests, etc.

Table 1. Chronology of major forestry legislation and its potential impact on

the woodcarving industry in Kenya

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