The Kenya Forest Service is an agency of the Government of Kenya designated by the Forest Act of 2005 as the replacement for the old Forest Department. It is overseen by the Board of the Kenya Forest Service. The former Forest Department was supported almost entirely from forest revenues, and was, as a result, chronically underfunded. Under the 2005 Forest Act this has changed somewhat, with for example, the creation of special funds such as the Water Towers Conservation Fund, a portion of which goes to forest rehabilitation, and the Mau Rehabilitation Trust Fund, for the Mau Forest. As of 2003, Kenya had 1.57Â million hectares of gazetted forest.
Mission
Among the responsibilities of the Kenya Forest Service are to:
- own, manage and protect all state forests
- promote forestry education and training and operate the Kenya Forestry College
- enforce the conditions and regulations pertaining to logging, charcoal making and other forest utilisation activities
- apprehend and prosecute violators of forest law and regulations
- collect revenues from exploitation of forest products
Forest management plans
The Kenya Forest Service has begun issuing management plans for individual forests. Plans are in effect for:
- Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
- Cherangani Hills Forest consisting of thirteen blocks including the Embobut Forest
- Karura Forest
- Kereita Forest
- Mau Forest
- Saboti-Sosio Forest, a Green Zones Development Support Project supported plan
- South Nandi Forest, a Green Zones Development Support Project and Nature Kenya supported plan
- Vanga, Jimbo and Kiwegu Mangrove Forest, an Air Kenya supported plan
Notes
External links
- "Kenya Forest Service homepage".Â
