Policy gaps current status of bamboo in kenyan forestry laws
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This document discusses the status and management of bamboo in Kenya. It notes that bamboo covers 150,000 hectares in Kenya, both in pure stands and mixed with other plants. While bamboo has over 100 uses, it is mainly used for construction, crafts, and supporting agricultural crops. Proper management of bamboo could boost employment and livelihoods. The document also outlines challenges to bamboo utilization and marketing in Kenya, such as lack of capital and market development. It recommends further research on sustainable harvesting techniques and diversifying bamboo uses to promote its development.
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Policy gaps current status of bamboo in kenyan forestry laws
- 1. Paul Ongugo and Mathenge Gitonga Kenya Forestry Research Institute and Kenya Forest Service 5/5/2015 1
- 2. Status of Bamboo Management Cover 150,000 ha - pure stands, others mixed with trees and shrubs Approximately 10,000 ha planted on farms Mainly indigenous -Yushania alpina found in montane forests Exotic species from many provenances have been tried in various sites forming the majority of planted bamboo Even though bamboo has over 100 uses, in Kenya, it is used mainly for fencing, house construction and scaffolding, water harvesting, production of matchsticks, toothpicks, fancy handicrafts & in supporting horticultural crops Proper management can contribute tremendously towards employment creation in rural areas, improve livelihoods and carbon sequestration 5/5/2015 2
- 3. Processing, Utilization and Marketing Utilization is mainly within the domestic sector particularly in highlands where the resources are abundant Used for fencing, house construction, and other small scale cottage industries The flower farmers also use bamboo for support There is limited documentation of the scope of utilization Currently, market demand for bamboo is higher than supply The situation is exacerbated by the Presidential moratorium on bamboo harvesting Marketing is controlled by KFS which charging royalties bamboo culms harvested from public forests Royalty is low and this discourages farmers from selling their produce 5/5/2015 3
- 4. Policy and Legislation Policy on development, management and utilization of forest resources does not adequately address specific needs of the subsector Forest Policy 2005 mainly recognizes and gives detailed guidelines and regulations on development and utilization of indigenous forests and trees, farm forests, dryland forests and plantation forests and trees Bamboo resource is not directly mentioned, but categorized as a non-wood forest produce which the policy does not give prominence However the KFS strategic plan specifically recognizes bamboo in enterprise development & environmental conservation 5/5/2015 4
- 5. Policy and Legal challenges Classified into socio-economic, technical, logistical and policy (a) Socio-economic: 1. Limited land size due to population growth in high potential areas, while in drier areas moisture and animal damage are main constraints 2. Lack of capital to invest in bamboo processing tools and machinery by small and medium scale entrepreneurs. 3. Poorly developed market for bamboo products 4. Lack of modern and appropriate skills for diversified utilization of bamboo 5. Inadequate awareness of the potential of bamboo in development of rural communities and the country 5/5/2015 5
- 6. Policy and Legal Challenges Continued (b) Logistics: Inadequate capacity and tools for effective surveillance of stands, fire outbreaks, efficient harvesting and processing Exact resource base not known Lack of well organized bamboo cottage industry Inadequate financial allocation to develop minor forest produce (c) Policy constraints: Inadequate recognition of non-timber forest products Restriction on movement of bamboo produce from farmlands Lack of clear rules and regulations on bamboo exploitation from gazetted forests Inadequate policy for development of markets 5/5/2015 6
- 7. The way ahead Research to generate data on local bamboo resource to guide management, harvesting, utilization & marketing. Need to carry out research in: Kenya to intensifying production from existing sources & expand production from private farms by a) developing comprehensive extraction techniques and harvesting regimes b) developing techniques for restocking over-harvested areas Improving & diversifying utilization of bamboo by a) improving knowledge on bamboo properties b) developing appropriate bamboo preservation methods Assessment of marketing dynamics as a feedback to investment in the industry. 5/5/2015 7
- 8. Changes in Policy and Legislation Some policy issues and legislative issues need to be addressed to ensure benefits from bamboo sector in Kenya. Priority areas include: Development of policy guidelines using proven technical information on best practices to improve bamboo production, utilization and marketing. Draft policy has been written in form of a cabinet memo Ease the ban on harvesting bamboo from Government managed forests to achieve full utilization and improve livelihoods of local communities Adopt proper pricing policy based on market studies Have a bamboo strategy and a program to implement the strategy 5/5/2015 8
- 9. THANK YOU Try Bamboo shoots for a great Taste!!! 5/5/2015 9