TITLE:
Can Small-Holder Trees Supplement the Public Plantations in the Wood Market? The Case of Kenya’s Logging Moratorium
AUTHORS:
David Kipkirui Langat, Abdalla Kiteo Kisiwa, Nereoh Chelimo Leley, Joram Kimenju Kagombe, Joshua Kiplongei Cheboiwo
KEYWORDS:
Small-Holder, Farm Forestry, Logging Moratorium, Plantation Management, Wood Supply
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.12 No.3,
June
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: Kenya’s public forest sector plantations have been the main source of
roundwood for wood-based industries but several factors have reduced its
capacity to meet increasing demands, resulting in huge deficits. The growth of small-holder
forestry over the last three decades has demonstrated the potential to
supplement the deficits. The imposed logging moratorium in public and
community forests in 2002-2012 and 2018 not
only opened markets for small-holder tree growers but also increased demand
pressure from
various wood consumers. This paper presents an
assessment of the status of farm-based wood resources three years within the latest moratorium period and the potential of farm
tree resources to complement wood from public
forest plantations. Data were collected from 56 households using semi-structured
interviews, key informants interviews,
and a rapid assessment of standing and harvested trees from 146 on-farm plots. The main commercial tree species found on the farms were; Cupressus
lusitanica, Eucalyptus sp., Grevillea
robusta, Pinus patula, and Acacia mearnsii. Eucalypts were the most
planted trees with an average land size of 1.08 ha. The farm tree resources have sustained some level of wood
demand since the moratorium, as indicated by the high volume of wood harvested.
The study found that about 40% of current wood resources consisted of trees
less than 5 years, and most harvests were of small diameter classes which are
essentially juvenile wood and are unsuitable for structural and furniture use. Furthermore, most
small-scale farmers lack appropriate silvicultural and management knowledge,
preferring smaller growing spacing as shown by the high planting density of 1659
stems·ha-1 and also use of inferior germ-plasm, with implications on the quality of wood from farms. It is recommended that rigorous capacity building on tree
growing and management techniques be undertaken and a progressive and
supportive policy framework on
harvesting and trade of trees on-farm be developed.