2. Project Summary
CRC-K was established in 1997, housed by Kenya
Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).
The program is based under Natural Forests Program.
IFRI engages researchers, government agencies (KFS),
students and other collaborators in conducting
researches across the Kenyan forests.
16 sites have been established, some have been
revisited
3. Program Goals, Purpose and
Objectives
Goal
The goal of IFRI-Kenya is to reduce the escalating
deforestation in the country by involving stakeholders
in the management of the forests.
Overall Objective
o collect, analyze, assess, develop and monitor
biophysical and socioeconomic data on factors that
affect the forest condition through site establishment
in different regions.
4. Specific objectives
To determine how institutions affect the incentives
facing forest users
To determine how such incentives encourage forest
destruction or sustainability
To determine how forest users establish their own
effective governance arrangements or continue to
pursue independent strategies
To determine how government driven development
activities, policies, and laws affect forest users.
6. IFRI Regional Training
Held at Makerere University on 8th July-25th August
2012.
The course was attended by Students from Kenya
(Roxventa Anyango and Benjamin Owuor), Uganda
and Ethiopia.
The course explored theoretical and methodological
approaches for exploring human-environment
interactions.
It focused on community, institutional, socioeconomic and ecological factors influencing
sustainability.
Guest lecturers from Indiana, addis Ababa and KEFRI
participated.
7. Output
Through the program, several research activities have
been conducted across the Kenyan forests.
As a result 57 reports have been produced. These
include: scientific papers, site visit reports, training
reports, and policy briefs have been developed from
the activities.
21 of the reports have been published.
The members have participated in different workshops
and conferences.
The members have been involved in community
initiatives, e.g. trainings, tree planting activities etc.
8. Published reports
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Otuoma J., Ongugo P., Kemboi D., Mairura F., and Akinyi F.( 2013). To plant or protect: evaluating forest recovery
dynamics under natural and aided regeneration in Western Kenya. Paper presented to the First International
Research and Innovation Conference, 28th-30th August, Nairobi.
Ongugo P, Gombya W. S., Tadesse W. G., Senbeta F., Luoga E. and Bahati J.(2011). Forest governance reforms in
East Africa: a comparative analysis of institutional, livelihood and forest sustainability outcomes. Paper presented
to 13th biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons, 10th -14th January 2011,
Hyderabad, India.
Obonyo E., Tanui J., Catacutan D., Mowo J. M.,(2011). Local institutions in natural resource management for
resilience against climate change effects. Paper presented to 13th biennial conference of the International
Association for the Study of Commons, 10th -14th January 2011, Hyderabad, India.
Ongugo P., Kimani S., Emily. O.(2011). Conflicting Policies: Institutional approaches towards decentralization and
governanceof common pool resources in Kenya. Paper presented to 13th biennial conference of the International
Association for the Study of Commons, 10th -14th January 2011, Hyderabad, India.
Ongugo P. O., Okwaro G. M., Ngoda B.J.(2011). Institutions, Livelihood and Forest Dynamics: The Case Study of
Ramogi and Mau Forests in Kenya. Paper presented to 13th biennial conference of the International Association for
the Study of Commons, 10th -14th January 2011, Hyderabad, India.
Ongugo R.A. Purity A. O.(2011). Tradition Forest Use and Institutional Change: Case Study of Loita Community
Forest, Narok South District, Kenya. Paper presented to 13th biennial conference of the International Association
for the Study of Commons, 10th -14th January 2011, Hyderabad, India.
Ongugo P., Okwaro G., Kimani S. (2011). Forests, Communities and Urban Markets: Can thy Co-exist in a Devolved
Structure. Paper presented to 13th biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons,
10th -14th January 2011, Hyderabad, India.
Osumba P.A., Ongugo R.A., Njagi E.W., Owich V.O. (2011). Pay Back Anticipation: A Driving Force in Community’s
Participation to Forest Management. Paper presented to 13th biennial conference of the International Association
for the Study of Commons, 10th -14th January 2011, Hyderabad, India.
Obonyo E. and Jephine A. M. (2013). Towards adaptation: From indigenous management systems to decentralized
forest governance.
The Peoples' Forest: Cultural and Socio-economic Importance of Ramogi Forest to the Yimbo People. Langat D, J.
Njuguna, Ongugo P, Sigu G, Langat D., Bwire P and Opiyo A. (2001). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (1999) Nairobi
Kenya.
The Peoples' Forest: Cultural and Socio-economic Importance of Ramogi Forest to the Yimbo People. Langat D, J.
Njuguna, Ongugo P, Sigu G, Langat D., Bwire P and Opiyo A. (2001). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (1999) Nairobi
Kenya.
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Published reports
The Impact of Institutional Changes in the Condition of Mt. Elgon Forest. The Case of Chorlem and
Kimothon Forest Blocks. E. Obonyo., J. Njuguna., Ongugo P., Sigu G., Langat D., Bwire P and Opiyo A.
(2001). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (2001) Nairobi Kenya.
Emmanuel L., Paul O., George K., Silayo D.S.A. and Njabha Lyantura (2013). Linking Mt. Kilimanjaro
Forest Resources to Institutional, Social –Political and physical Factors: A cross border comparative
analysis.
Paul O.O., Titus E.M., Emily O. Jephine M. Joseph O.M., Charles K. K. and Roxventa A. O. (2013).
Emerging roles of community forest associations in Kenya. The case of Arabuko –Sokoke Forest Adjacent
Dwellers Association(ASFADA) and Meru Forest Environmental and Protection Community
Association(MEFECAP).
Forest Adjacent Communities (FACs) Impact on Natural Forests Under Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
Management: A Case Study of Chorlem Forest Block, Mt. Elgon Forest, Kenya. Njuguna J. W., Paul O.
and Sigu G. (1999). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (1999). KEFRI Nairobi.
Forest Usage by Adjacent Communities: Case Study of Kimothon Forest Block, Mt. Elgon Forest, Under
the Forest Department Management, Kenya . Njuguna J. W. Paul O. & Sigu G. (1999). IFRI /CRC-K
Publication (1999) Nairobi Kenya.
Forest Management at Crossroads: Is There Hope for Mt. Kilimanjaro Forest? Preliminary Results.
Njuguna J., Ongugo P., Sigu G. (1999). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (1999) Nairobi Kenya.
The Current Status of the Vanga Mangrove Forest : Policy Implications for Conservation Initiatives. Sigu
G., Ongugo P. and J. Njuguna J. (1999). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (1999) Nairobi Kenya.
The Status of Upper Imenti Forest : Interactions between the Adjacent Communities and Nkunga and
Nchoroiboro Forest Blocks. J. Njuguna., Ongugo P., Sigu G., Langat D., Bwire P. and Opiyo A.
(2001). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (1999) Nairobi Kenya.
The Impact of Political and Socio-economic Instabilities on the Condition of Kedowa Forest Block in the
West Mau Forest Ecosystem. G. Sigu, P. Ongugo, J. Njuguna, Langat D., Bwire P. and Opiyo A.
(2001). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (2000) Nairobi Kenya.
The Interactions between Forest Adjacent Communities and Forest Department and Their Impacts on
the Condition of Gathiuru Forest Block (Mt. Kenya Forest). E. Obonyo, J. Njuguna, Ongugo P., Sigu G.,
Langat D, Bwire P and Opiyo A. (2001). IFRI /CRC-K Publication (2001). Nairobi Kenya.
10. ForLanD Workshop
Through collaboration with University of Bonn,
members of E.A CRCs have attended workshops
through ForLanD.
In 2010, the members attended a capacity building
workshop in Kisumu.
In 2013, a policy level workshop was organized in
Naivasha-Kenya.
The workshop brought together government officials,
policy makers, researchers, academicians, members of
the civil society involved in forest governance, in East
Africa to help initiate Science-policy dialogue.
The team then visited Eburru forest, a site of the CRCK.
11. IFRI support
An IFRI project has supported PhD programs of Emily
Obonyo and Jane Njuguna .
Another IFRI project is sponsoring Benjamin Owuor, a
Master student at Kenyatta University, Kenya.
12. Collaborations
Through its initiative to improve science and research,
the program has partnered with other organizations .
Currently, the methodology is being used by Centre
for International Forestry Research -CIFOR project
The program is being implemented through a
collaboration by KEFRI, Makerere University and
ICRAF on A project “Adaptation of people to climate
change in East Africa: Ecosystem services, risk
reduction and human well-being.”
Through CIFOR funding, Kimothon forest was
revisited in 2012. A revisit of Chorlem forest has been
planned in November, 2013.
13. Student Trainings
Every year, students from local and international
universities, studying environmental related courses
are attached to the program- IFRI/CRC-K office.
The students, have successfully finished their
attachment and internship programs.
Some have used the IFRI Methodology to conduct
their college project research.
14. Main achievements
The documentation of the condition of forests;
The sensitization of the communities who live
adjacent to the forests on the importance of their
participation in the management of the forests;
Data on the species distribution, richness and product
extraction levels have been made available to forest
managers for decision making;
Policy has been influenced to some extent in favor of
community participation resulting into pilot cases in
some forests;
15. Information sharing has been enhanced in the country
and at the international levels through organized
meetings, conferences, workshops and exchange visits;
Capacity building has been one of the core
achievements of the project. Communities have been
trained in various skills aimed at improving their
livelihoods, institute staff has also been sponsored by
the project in various courses.
In its endeavor to establish linkages between
institutions, the project has attached students from
various institutions as a way of training them in
research and IFRI protocol.
16. Challenges faced
A lot of work has been conducted with minimum
resources.
Some of the established plots have not been revisited
due to shortage of funds, further establishment of
plots cannot be done.
The program is supported by interns, in data
collection and management.
Lack of incentives for the interns has resulted to
increased turnout, affecting program activities.
17. Conclusion
Provide trainings to the IFRI members to aid in data
archiving and management.
With more funds, more IFRI staff can be hired, to help
implement the research agenda through data
collection and management.
