Family Forestry platform in Kenya

The Farm Forestry Associations of Kenya gathered together in Nairobi and formed a National Committee.

Published: 18.May, 2012

Dr. Dominic Walubengo, elected “Patron” to the Steering Group of the new National Committee (left) and Lennart Ackzell, IFFA

The project “Strengthening Smallholder Forest Producers Associations in Kenya” inspired by the Growing Forest Partnership and supported by FAO national forest program facility and Agricord, and financed by SIDA ended this week by establishing a National Platform for Kenyan Family Forest Associations, see attached short picture report.

This strengthening of civil society, providing for exchange of experiences and to form a national voice on Forest Policy from Family Farm Forestry perspective, was very timely as Kenya is undergoing a revision of its forest policy and forest act to be accomplished within a year.

The new IFFA Brochure was distributed in Kenya

A clear message from last year’s seminar was the need to form a National Level platform of Smallholder Forest Producers in Kenya.
Farm forestry which is the legal term in Kenya for trees planted by smallholders on their own farmland, gathered at this event six associations with interests in farm forestry.

They had a broad geographic distribution, Kieni (Central ), Meru (Eastern ), South Coast (Coast), Molo (Rift Valley), Kisii (Nyanza) and Western Province, but quite uneven stage of institutional development.

The project support development of local smallholder associations and the establishment of a National Platform.

A steering group consisting of one representative from the core group associations will divide duties with the objective to update member associations and to remind relevant parties on its existence and need.

A National Committee of Farm Forest Producers Associations is a supportive tool for engagement of local tree growers, their associations and to provide for a participatory voice on forest policy.
Civil society participation to defend the rights of local Farm Forestry practitioners is a natural element in forest policy development.

A National Committee will provide a partner for implementation and better understanding of the reality and wishes of farm forestry in Kenya to other parties working with or that have an interest thereof.

Links to
A brief picture report
A PowerPoint presentation of the new steering group with contact details.

Group photo of the new Steering Committee representing six different provinces and associations flanked by Lennar Ackzell LRF (left) and Svarte Swartling Norra Family Forest Association.