Investing in green economy for sustainable food security and environmental resilience in a changing climate

1. By
D. Nyamai1, B.E.N. Chikamai1 and Janet Oyuke2
1
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
2 Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)

2. Key words
 10% tree cover
 Environmental resilience
 Income
 Food security
 Agriculture sector-wide ministries & stakeholders

3. Introduction
• Kenya’s land mass is 587,000 km2 with a population of around 40
million people which is growing at a relatively high rate of 2.7%.
• Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for majority of the
population.
• Agricultural potential of the land however varies and only 17% of the
land is of high potential for rain fed farming
• Irrigation is practiced in about 100,000 hectares and the rest of the low
potential land is under dry land farming and pastoralism.
• The country is facing severe environmental problems. Greatest of
these problems is land and forest degradation mainly from removal of
vegetation, unsustainable land management practices and overstocking
•Growth in agricultural production has over the last few decades been
based on extensification rather than intensification, which has pushed
the agricultural frontier to the extent that forest cover is barely 5.9% of
the land

4. Area of Forest types in Kenya
Name of variable Area (‘000Ha)
1990 2000 2005 2010
Indigenous closed Canopy 1 240 1 190 1 165 1140
Indigenous Mangroves 80 80 80 80
Open woodlands 2 150 2 100 2 075 2050
Public Plantation Forests (1) 170 134 119 107
Private Plantation forests (1) 68 78 83 90
Bush-land 24 800 24 635 24 570 24510
Grasslands 10 730 10 485 10 350 10350
Settlements 8256 8 192 8 152 8202
Farms with Trees 9 420 10 020 10 320 10385
Inland water Bodies 1 123 1 123 1 123 1123
Total Area for country 58 037 58 037 58 037 58037
Source: FAO Report on State of Forest in Kenya, 2010

5. Forest degradation trend in Kenya 1988-2012
Source: World Bank Report 2011

6. Charcoal burning in the Mau Forest Complex

7. Logging of indigenous trees on the Maasai Mau Forest

8. Effects of the cleared forests in Kenya

9. Changing Paradigm…….
• The Country has embarked on agriculture sector-wide
implementation strategy to comply with the 10% rule for
forest cover.
• Engaging in sustainable agriculture (agroforestry best
practices) – conservation agriculture with trees
. Policies and legislation enacted to guide sustainable
development and management of trees in farming systems
- Ministry of Agriculture Farm Forestry Rule, 2009 under
Agriculture Act Cap 318 ; Forest Act 2005
. Institutional Innovations – Multi-sector and Public
participation and Partnerships

10. Agric Sector-Wide Implementation Strategy
Implementation underpinned by an integrated and holistic agro-
ecosystem approach targeting livelihood, food security and
environmental resilience
Thematic focus:
1. Demonstration, validation and packaging best practices
2. Strengthen capacity and institutional framework for up-take and
scaling up best practices and innovations
3. Policy , legal and institutional framework
4. Investment and Trade in tree-based enterprises
5. Up scaling sustainable agro-ecosystems, natural resource
management (NRM) for Climate Change adaptation and mitigation
strategies

11. Agroforestry practices in Kenya - Cowpeas intercropped with Melia Volkensii tree
Kibwezi – KEFRI project

12. Melia volkensii tree grown to provide Timber and earn income to the farmers

13. Implementation strategy &Coordination
•Mechanisms that reinforce synergy, complimentarity and
coordination
•Partnerships & Networking
eco-regionally-coordinated activities - consortia of national teams
in collaboration with regional and international institutions
Coordination
Process driven by science and practice of agroforestry/ farm
forestry (putting in place best practices/ technologies &
innovations);
incorporate incentive packages – promote tree farming as a
business;
Mainstream Agric & Forestry sector reform agenda targeting 10%
forest cover.

14. Way forward
•Fast-tracking stakeholders collaboration & partnerships
•Information generation and packaging for scaling up implementation of 10% forest
cover
• Enhance technical assistance for best practices, protocols, standards and
guidelines
•Build capacity of stakeholders and relevant institutions create enabling
environment for private investments in farm forestry;
•Enhance awareness and understanding of social and economic factors
•Promote enterprises and marketing channels for tree products;
•Promote effective policies and programmes related to conservation of biological
diversity, rehabilitation of forest and tree resources
•Articulate role of farm forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation
•Provide a platform for information & experience sharing

15. Thank you