Supporting forestry projects in East Africa

Flic Blakeway of the CSIR reports that in Kenya natural forest cover declined from 30% of its land area in the 1960s to less than 2% at present. She said that contributing factors are harvesting to meet demand for fuelwood and charcoal, and clearing of land for human settlement and agriculture. Between 1997-2002 local company Mondi provided technical support to the Tree Biotechnology Projects for the introduction of clonal Eucalyptus material for establishing woodlots. This project has gathered momentum and there is now a self-sufficient clonal nursery and community-based regional nurseries in Kenya. Links have been established with forestry research directorates in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, as well as academic and research institutions like the CSIR. The projects focus on planting and sustainably managing fast-growing Eucalyptus in small-scale farming communities to provide wood for income generation and domestic use. Flic reports that the CSIR provides strategic input to the tree planting projects in East Africa, including data analysis and data management services. Benson Kanyi, Rose Makena Ireri and Mr Ntinga at Mr Ntinga's Githima regional tree nursery.