Nairobi: Community Forest Associations (CFAs) play a crucial role in connecting local communities with their natural environment, thus reducing conflicts of interest among players in common ecosystems, the Secretary of the Kinale Forest Association, Daniel Njinu, has said.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mr. Njinu clarified that CFAs are community-based organisations composed of individuals living near forests tasked with supporting sustainable forest management. This model of participatory conservation was significantly strengthened by the Forests Act of 2005 and further enhanced by the Forests Act of 2016.
The 2005 law established the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) as a body corporate responsible for the management and conservation of public forests in Kenya. The Act recognised the essential role of local communities in forest management, empowering them to engage in decision-making and benefit from sustainable forest use.
On the other hand, the 2016 Act built on this by reinforcing community rights, emphasising participatory approaches, and implementing benefit-sharing mechanisms. It is within this framework that CFAs, such as the one managing Kinale Forest in Kiambu County, were established.
“We operate under a formal contract with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and jointly develop a participatory forest management plan every five years. This ensures that the forest is managed sustainably while benefiting the community,” explained Njinu.
Community members who join the CFA register at the Attorney General’s office. With the vastness of Kinale Forest, which sits on a 10,500-hectare piece of land, the CFA currently has 3,200 members working closely with KFS.
“The community benefits in many ways. For instance, women can collect firewood at a monthly fee of Sh166. They are allowed to gather firewood once a day on weekdays, while weekends are reserved for forest rejuvenation. Other benefits include access to water, beekeeping opportunities, honey harvesting, and grazing livestock at minimal costs,” added Njinu.
One of the CFA’s most impactful initiatives is the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS), also known as the ‘Shamba system’. “After woodcutters contracted by KFS harvest trees, CFA members clear the land and collect firewood. Once the land is cleared, it is divided into plots-typically a quarter or an eighth of an acre-depending on the number of applicants. Members pay an annual fee of Sh145 to KFS, and we conduct a ballot to allocate the plots fairly,” Njinu elaborated.
Before the rainy season, KFS and CFA officials plan plantation activities and identify areas for tree planting. Members are allowed to grow crops alongside the young trees, but strict rules are enforced to protect the forest.
“We prohibit climbing plants like beans to prevent damage to the trees, and tall crops such as maize are not allowed to avoid overshadowing the saplings,” Njinu stated. Members are responsible for maintaining both the trees and their crops. If a tree dies, they must notify KFS for replanting. After three years, when the trees are strong enough to survive on their own, members vacate the plots, ensuring a tree survival rate of 90-100 per cent.
The Kinale Forest CFA demonstrates the power of community involvement in sustainable forest management. “This partnership between the community and KFS has transformed how forests are managed, creating a win-win situation for conservation and livelihoods,” Njinu said proudly.
By balancing conservation efforts with community benefits, CFAs like the one at Kinale Forest are safeguarding Kenya’s forests for future generations while empowering local communities.
