Author(s)

David Kipkirui Langat^1*, Abdalla Kiteo Kisiwa¹, Nereoh Chelimo Leley^1,2, Joram Kimenju Kagombe¹, Joshua Kiplongei Cheboiwo¹

¹Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
²Egerton University, Njoro Campus, Egerton, Kenya.

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.

Small-Holder, Farm Forestry, Logging Moratorium, Plantation Management, Wood Supply

Langat, D. , Kisiwa, A. , Leley, N. , Kagombe, J. and Cheboiwo, J. (2022) Can Small-Holder Trees Supplement the Public Plantations in the Wood Market? The Case of Kenya’s Logging Moratorium. Open Journal of Forestry, 12, 337-349. doi: 10.4236/ojf.2022.123018.