Forests are increasingly recognized as key to Kenya's economy, including for their role in the energy sector (water regulation and soil retention for hydroelectric power generation), agriculture (enhancing soil quality, reducing soil erosion) and tourism, as well as for timber and wood products. Moreover, Kenya’s constitution has set a minimum national tree cover target of 10%, and the country has demonstrated sustained commitment to anchoring REDD+ in its national policy framework and development strategy. In this context, Kenya is in the process of identifying the best ways to address the direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.
This report, Improving Efficiency in Forestry Operations and Forest Product Processing in Kenya: A viable REDD+ policy and measure, analyses whether increased efficiency in forestry operations and forest product processing and utilization are relevant REDD+ policies and measures for the Government of Kenya (GoK), with the potential to attract public and/or private investments to enable REDD+ implementation. In particular, the report focuses on the extent to which efficiency improvements could address supply deficiency in the forest sector, thereby reducing pressures on existing forests and related emissions.
The results show that investments in efficiency measures in charcoal production as well as fuelwood consumption at household and industrial levels are: i) viable REDD+ policies to reduce or eliminate net carbon emissions; and ii) could significantly contribute to Kenya’s GHG emission reduction targets; iii) can be cost efficient.
Investment opportunities to enhance efficiency in the forest sector were identified in the following sub-sectors:
- Forestry operations (commercial logging);
- Timber conversions (sawmills);
- Charcoal production;
- Use of charcoal in firewood and cooking stove technology; and
- Wood usage in industrial processes.