Advocacy And Institutional Support For The Successful Implementation Of The Forests Act 2005

Forest Action Network, in collaboration with SmartCitizens, National Alliance of Community Forest Associations and Resource Conflict Institute has launched an 18 month project on Advocacy and Institutional Support for the Successful Implementation of the Forests Act 2005.

The enactment of the Forests Act 2005 gave Kenyans and in particular, communities living adjacent to forests hope for improved forest management and livelihoods. However, implementation has been slow. Since the Act came into effect in February 2007, some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working through coalitions and networks, have assisted the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Board and Management put in place structures, guidelines and subsidiary legislation that are provided for under the Act. However, more has to be done for Participatory Forest Management (PFM) to benefit communities through Community Forest Associations (CFAs), working in conjunction with Forest Conservation Committees (FCCs) and indeed, KFS as a whole.

Through this project, the partner organisations intend to support communities, stakeholders and institutions established by the Forests Act 2005 for faster and effective implementation of the Act. The project's overall goal is to improve the governance and management of forests in Kenya.