IRIN-Humanitarian News and Analysis reports that agroforestry and commercial tree planting have the support of Kenya’s national forest agency.
David Ngugi, the director of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) recently stated that the government "must start to give incentives to farmers to [plant more] trees on their farms…”
Ngugi said agroforestry and commercial tree farming—combined with protecting government-controlled forests—could help the country reach its target 10 percent tree cover.” Just 6.2 percent of Kenya’s total land is currently covered with forests, according to KFS.
Ngugi was speaking during the release of a new report by the Kenya government and UNEP, titled ‘Climate change and its impact on forests - will forests migrate?’
The report states that Kenya has grossly undervalued its forests’ contribution to the country's GDP, putting it at 1.1% rather than the more accurate 3.6%.
UNEP Director Achim Steiner said affordable energy sources, particularly for rural communities, are needed if tree cover is to be saved and enhanced.
Read full article on IRIN website: KENYA: Experts rally for agroforestry, commercial tree farming
UNEP report Chapter: Climate Change and its impact on forests - will forests migrate?
Full report available at: http://www.unep.org/vitalforest/
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