Kenya: Forest Plantations comprise six percent of Kenya’s gazetted forest estate, and the exotic tree species have a rotation period of 25 to 30 years, after which, if they are not harvested, they begin to rot.
Hence the Service uses felling plans to harvest a maximum of 5,000 hectares per year, and this ensures the Government profits from the investments in Forest Plantations. The areas in which harvesting has been undertaken are then replanted.
Kenya Forest Service has automated the process of issuance of plantation harvesting licenses which will now be done through the County Forest Conservators. Payment of taxes has also been automated to ensure compliance with Government tax regulations.
A detailed harvesting security plan on access, control and supervision of actual harvesting and reporting has been implemented. As part of the plan, entry Certificates are presented to Forest Station Managers before the removal of any forest produce. Upon completion of the felling and withdrawal of materials, Exit Certificates are issued as evidence of compliance with all requirements.
An inventory informed the lifting of the ban on logging in gazetted forests on forest plantations which was undertaken by a Multi–Agency Taskforce commissioned by the former Minister for Environment and Forestry to confirm available stocks.
The inventory undertaken from 2020 to 2022 revealed a large number of mature and over–mature forest plantations. As per the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016, the Kenya Forest Service has a responsibility to manage and utilize forest plantations and ensure they are profitable. Hence the disposal of these forest materials is in compliance with the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016.
In addition, e-registration of saw millers was undertaken, leading to the prequalification of applicants into various categories based on respective capacities. Forest–adjacent communities have been factored into this arrangement to ensure they also benefit.
