Kenya Forests Working Group

National Alliance for Forests in the 2007 elections and Beyond

Kenyans concerns about Forests:

Kenyans are concerned about forests because forests are important to us. The values of forests include:.

• Water. Forests catch, store and release water. This maintains a steady water supply, reducing floods and the effects of drought. Forests enhance favourable rain patterns.
• Energy. Forests provide fuelwood. Water from forests flows to hydro-electric power plants, producing 70% of Kenya’s electricity.
  Soil conservation and fertility. Trees enrich the soil and protect it from erosion.
• Air quality and other environmental services. Forests assist in air purification and reduce global warming. Forests also help moderate local climates, favouring agricultural production.
• Timber and non-timber products. Forest trees produce wood and poles. Non-timber forest products include medicinal plants, gums, resins, fibres, fruits, seeds, fodder and honey.
• Biodiversity. In Kenya, 50% of tree, shrub and woody vine species are found in forests.  And 40% of large or medium-sized mammal species, 35% of butterflies and 30% of bird species live in forests. (Yet forests are less than 2% of the land area!)
• Tourism, recreation and sacred places. Forests are cool, shady, pleasant places to visit.  Many forests are sacred places to local communities.
• Employment. Activities in forests provide employment directly to forestry employees and to neighbouring communities. Forests provide services to other sectors – agriculture, tourism, water and energy – thus indirectly supporting employment in these sectors.
• Genetic resources. Forests are known for the unique species which live in their ecosystems. This is a genetic resource of unknown value that could advance medicine, food production and materials development.
• Education and Research. Forests provide opportunities for education and research.
  

Download the Misitu Declaration