Participation in Sustainable Forest Management : Linking Forests and People in Kenya

This forest policy note was prepared to
provide input to the ongoing forest sector reform in Kenya
on participation in sustainable forest management. It offers
recommendations on possible priority forest policy actions
within the forthcoming Natural Resource Management (NRM)
Project. The latter focuses enhancing the capacity of
Kenyans to manage the natural resource base and resources
available to poor and vulnerable communities. By outlining
priority actions, such as improving the forest information
base and establishing accountability mechanisms, while at
the same time seizing the opportunities for engagement of
local communities and private investors, the policy note
outlines a set of actions critical for increased
participation in sustainable forest management. In this
respect the policy note supports the World Bank's
Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) and the more recent CAS
progress report. The latter emphasizes the Bank's
strategy on growth and poverty reduction, but gives enhanced
attention to equity and governance. The forest policy note
complements previous the World Bank-supported analytical
work in the forest sector since 2004, including a strategic
environmental assessment of the 2005 Forests Act. Taking
into account the importance of forests and woodlands in
rural areas and the opportunities offered in the 2005 Forest
Act for increased stakeholder participation the policy note
as well as the forthcoming NRM Project are closely aligned
the Bank Group's strategic emphasis on growth and
poverty reduction with enhanced attention to equity and governance.