Kenyans Work Towards Reforestation
8/30/99
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: KENYANS Work Towards Reforestation
Source: Environment News Service
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 30, 1999
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 30, 1999 (ENS) - Kenya's semi-arid regions are
under increasing ecological pressure due to a growing population and
a lack of arable land. In areas of high population density and small
land holdings, agroforestry plays an important role in many farmers'
economic strategies.
Improved agroforestry techniques help to mitigate the effects of
deforestation, land depletion and rural poverty. Many farmers are
concerned mainly with meeting household needs for fuel wood, building
material and fruit, and only secondarily in potential cash benefits
from trees.
Using tree products for local consumption has the additional benefit
of not having to rely on uncertain market conditions for cash crops.
This strategy minimizes risk and contributes to the overall
diversification of family farms.
As part of a broader effort to address the issues involved in
promoting sustainable agroforestry in semi-arid areas, Kenya's Embu
District was the focus of a study undertaken by the International
Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).
The study aimed to improve the nutrition, income, and general welfare
of low-resource households in Embu. Crops such as tea, coffee, and a
variety of foods are grown in the District alongside a number of tree
species used for firewood, building materials, fruit, medicine,
fencing and fodder, or sold for cash.
The study concentrated on developing and testing a model of inter-
institutional collaboration in agroforestry research.
Farmers recommended that group nurseries be considered the foundation
for agroforestry promotion efforts. An agroforestry forum should be
established and charged with promoting tree planting and integrating
trees on the farm, and co-ordinating all agroforestry-related
activities in the district, farmers said.
An agroforestry resource centre should be set up, existing farmer
operated nurseries should be strengthened, and others should be
established to increase tree planting efforts. A district tree-seed
bank was recommended to facilitate and enhance agroforestry
development.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 1999