KFS taps communities in forest management

CS Keriako Tobiko at an event in Nairobi (PHOTO: FILE)

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya Forest Service has signed over 150 Participatory Forest Management Plans and about 90 Forest Management Agreements, Chief Conservator Julius Kamau has disclosed.

The agreements provide a framework for Community Forest Associations to co-manage forest resources and to benefit from forest-related enterprises such as bee -keeping, eco-tourism, among others.

“We have signed over 150 Participatory Forest Management Plans and about 90 Forest Management Agreements. The agreements provide a framework for Community Forest Associations to co-manage forest resources and to benefit from forest-related enterprises such as bee -keeping, eco-tourism, among others.

Karura Forest, which is managed by Kenya Forest Service, in partnership with Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (CFA), is an example of how communities can participate in sustainable forest management and draw real benefits like employment for youth and other user rights meant to empower communities.

The Forest Conservation and Management Act provides for Communities to participate in the management of forests and draw benefits from their conservation efforts.

He spoke on the sidelines of an event graced by CS Keriako Tobiko at Karura Forest in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Tobiko led a delegation from the Regional Dialogue On Indigenous People and Southern Civil Society Organizations to Karura Forest for a tree planting session. They planted 240 trees.