2007年-世界发展银行全球_Strategic_Environmental_Assessment_of_the_Kenya_Forests_Act_2005_285页_2mb

报告摘要

Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Kenya Forests Act 2005 Summary

Core Content

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Kenya Forests Act 2005 was conducted by the World Bank to support the implementation of the Act and to inform the Natural Resource Management Project (2007–2012). The assessment aimed to integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations into the implementation of the Act, ensuring that the new framework for forest management would lead to sustainable use of forest resources and improved governance.

The Kenya Forests Act 2005 represents a radical shift from previous practices, where the government was the sole manager of forest reserves. The new Act emphasizes participatory forest management, recognizing forest community associations as partners in the management process. It also allows commercial plantations to be leased to interested groups, thereby supplementing government efforts.

The Act was formally gazetted on February 9, 2007, and its implementation is expected to increase availability of timber and other forest products for domestic use and export. However, the process faces numerous challenges, including institutional weaknesses, governance issues, and lack of stakeholder engagement.

Main Views and Key Information

Background

Kenya's forestry policy was developed shortly after independence, with the 1957 policy focusing on catchment protection and timber production.
The Kenya Forestry Master Plan (KFMP), finalized in 1994, recommended a shift from exclusionist to participatory management and the introduction of incentives for sustainable forest management.
The 2005 Forests Act was a result of the KFMP and aimed to improve governance, increase transparency, and promote community and private sector participation.

Forest Resources

Closed canopy forests cover 2% of Kenya's total land area (1.24 million hectares).
Plantation forests cover 0.61 million hectares, with the majority located in the Montane and Coastal Forest Regions.
The Western Rainforest Region now has 1.9% forest cover due to population pressure, while the Dry Zone Forest Region has 0.4%.
Woodland and scrub vegetation are also significant, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, for fuelwood, charcoal, and grazing.

Key Issues

Poor governance has historically contributed to deforestation and degradation, including corruption, policy failures, lack of transparency, and inadequate community participation.
The ban on logging from natural forests (introduced in 1982) has led to declining timber supply, increased import costs, and closure of local sawmills.
The shamba system, which allowed farmers to cultivate cleared forest areas, was banned in 2003 due to commercialization and lack of accountability.
Political interference and inadequate funding have undermined the effectiveness of forest management.

Strategic Priorities

Strategic management and planning of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
Community participation and benefit sharing.
Enhancing public and private investment to support sustainable forest management (SFM).

Recommendations

Develop a transparent and accountable governance structure for the KFS.
Prepare an updated Forest Policy and strategic plan.
Establish interinstitutional committees to ensure coordination of forest and natural resource legislation.
Implement enforcement strategies and international standards compliance.
Conduct annual audits and mid-term reviews of the strategic plan and business plan.
Create model agreements and guidelines for community forest associations (CFAs).
Improve training programs for KFS staff and private sector investors.
Ensure equitable sharing of benefits and costs among communities, private sector, and government.
Develop a regulatory framework that includes Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and other evaluation tools.
Promote partnerships between the KFS, private sector, and civil society.

Conclusion

The SEA highlights the need for institutional reform, community engagement, and transparent financial management to ensure the successful implementation of the Kenya Forests Act 2005. The policy action matrix outlines key actions and recommendations that should be pursued by the Forest Reform Committee and the KFS to support sustainable forest management and poverty reduction. The SEA is a living document that should be continually reviewed and updated to reflect the evolving needs of the sector.