The Kenya Forests Working group was formed in 1995 as a forum of individuals, organizations and institutions (government and non government, local and international) and grass root community organizations concerned with forests, working together to promote sound forest management and conservation practices in Kenya. KFWG Vision: A champion in promoting sustainable forest management in Kenya.
-Strategic plan 2008-2017
KFWG Mission
To promote sustainable forest management in Kenya through advocacy, research, networking, and partnerships development for improved livelihoods for all Kenyans. - Strategic plan 2008-2017
 History and Beginnings:
For its 10th anniversary, and with funding from DFID (UK), KFWG published a commemorative booklet “Collective Action for Conservation” in 2005. In it Kenyan writer Parsalelo Kantai traces the story of the group from its small beginnings in the one-party rule Kenya of the 90’s, through its struggles to lobby for forests on minimal resources save for the spirit of volunteerism from its membership, to its current standing as a recognized voice in forest conservation and management in Kenya. The booklet is available for free download here. It’s in PDF format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Support KFWG in its early years survived on the volunteer spirit of its founder members. These members with very little resources carried out aerial surveys and fact finding missions to support KFWG advocacy campaigns. In terms of finances, during the first year KFWG operated with minimal support from the EAWLS and the IUCN – Eastern Africa Regional Offices. Between November 1996 and July 1999, the Tropical Rainforest Programme of the Netherlands Committee of IUCN financially supported the KFWG activities. Between December 1999 and February 2000, the group underwent an evaluation exercise to determine its effectiveness and develop strategies for its future operations. The results of the evaluation were presented in a report, which among other things recommended the development of a proposal to bring in a new phase, which would be action oriented.
A three-year project proposal was then developed and sent to the European Union in Brussels for funding. Between July 1999 and November 2000, KFWG went through a transition phase that was supported by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), InterChurch Organization for Development Co-operation (ICCO) of Netherlands and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations – Forests Trees and People Programme (FTTP). The European Community supported the core activities of the KFWG in its second phase through the project: Sound forest management and conservation in Kenya between 2001 and 2004. Other donors since have included DFID, the Ford Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, UNEP and PACT/USAID thus helping in making KFWG the organization that it is today.
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