Effects of decentralization policies on forest management: experience from seven forests in Kenya

Abstract

The process of decentralisation in the Kenyan forestry sector has been going on since 1930s. The process has focused mainly on administrative decentralisation whose objective was to ensure effective management of forests by the forest department. In 1983 the government introduced the District Focus for Rural Development Programme involving all government departments. The aim was to deconcentrate administrative power from the headquarters to the districts. The districts were to be the centres for planning and implementation of all government programmes. The district development committee formed other sub-committees focussing on all the departments of government management. Apart from the district development committees, sub committees were started at divisional and locational levels in order to reach as many people as possible. For example, the Forest Department created the Sub location forest management offices in an effort to bring forest services closer to the people. Despite all the efforts and the good intentions of this administrative type of decentralization in the forest department, conditions of many forests continued to be poor thus prompting stakeholders including the Forest Adjacent Communities (FACs) to agitate for better forest management and delivery of forest goods. The agitations forced the government to initiate a forestry master planning process that culminated in the production of a New Forest Policy and Legislation that seek to involve forest stakeholders. Even though the legislation process is not yet complete, many forest adjacent communities have formed themselves in to environmental self-help groups and forestry associations that have initiated natural resource management initiatives in many forests.

This paper presents interim results from data collected from 6 sites in 6 forests where such associations have been formed. The results give analysis of the rationale for the formation of forest associations’ their objectives, activities and achievements as well as obstacles in their management. The formation of associations by the forest adjacent communities is their response to the effects of decentralisation in the Kenyan forestry sector. The range of activities in which the communities are involved through their associations show that decentralisation efforts have the potential to improve the condition of Kenya’s forests and woodlands. This will be assured when the forest adjacent 4 communities are involved in the management of the forests and woodlands in order to supplement the efforts of the Forest Department. The parameters assessed are the estimated amounts of extractions levels in the seven forests between 2000 and 2002. These are Loitokitok, Kedowa, Upper Imenti, Thimlich, Aberdares, Got Ramogi and Tugen Hills. Results from the study show a general decrease in the availability of major forest products. This was the main reason why those communities who live adjacent to the six forests formed associations through which they could bargain for better management of the forests. Even though the forests are located in different agro-ecological zones, the forest adjacent communities experienced similar problems, responded in similar ways and with similar objectives to address the identified problems.