FAQs

Kenya banned the export of eucalyptus veneers in August 2024. The ban targeted raw or semi processed veneers. The reasoning behind the ban was because of massive cutting of immature trees that were estimated to be about six (6) months old thus raising environmental concerns and loss in tax revenue. The aim was therefore, to curb the widespread, unregulated harvesting of immature trees, protect local processing industries, and secure the national 30% tree cover target by 2032 as envisioned in the National Ecosystem and Landscape Restoration Strategy 2023-2032. Effective August 2024, the government directed that all eucalyptus be processed locally to add value, aiming to curb exports to China and India thus supporting local industries and creation of jobs. The ban allowed companies that had veneers in their stocks to declare and clear them within a specified period that lapsed by end of June 2025. The ban is therefore still in force.

The Kenya Government imposed a ban on public forests managed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in the year 2018 with aim of addressing rapid deforestation and protect vital water catchments(water towers through a Presidential Directive. The ban was lifted in the year 2023 to allow commercial harvesting of mature trees thus minimizing their rotting and degradation of quality and eventually create jobs and incomes.

The ban was lifted in the year 2023 to allow commercial harvesting of mature trees thus minimizing their rotting and degradation of quality and eventually create jobs and incomes.

The trees being felled are part of a management plan on harvesting of mature trees for commercial use following the lifting of monatorium on logging.

The draft Charcoal Regulations allows regulated production and transportation permitted by respective Kenya Forest Services offices and Charcoal Producers Associations. However, respective Counties may impose bans with aim of promoting afforestation and reduction of landscape degradation. For example county governments of Kitui, Kajiado, Narok, Elgeyo Marakwet have existing charcoal production and transportation.

Yes. You can make charcoal for domestic use without requiring to apply for a permit. What is restricted is commercial charcoal burning and transportation.

The National Forest Policy 2023 is currently being implemented through the Forest Conservation and Management (Ammendment) Act , 2025 and the National Landscape Ecosystem Restoration Strategy 2023-2032: The 15 billion Tree Growing Agenda.

Review of the Forest Seeds Regulation is currently being developed and views of stakeholders will be incorporated.

Yes. Fruit trees are part of the 15Billion tree growing agenda as exemplified in the National Agroforestry Strategy 2025-2035.

The Kenya Forest Service has regional and county tree seedlings nurseries where one can get tree seedlings at a subsidized price.

Any job openings in the State Department for Forestry are declared and advertised for filling on the website of the Public Service Commission who have the mandate for hiring , promoting, disciplinary and firing of all public servants. Advise is to continually check on the website.

Communities are engaged in sustainable forest management and conservation initiatives through their respective Community Forest Associations (CFAs).

Yes. It is in place renamed Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS )and Tree Establishment Livelihood Scheme (TRELIS) whereby farmers are allocated plots in designated forest plantations where trees have been newly planted in order to take care of the trees as they grow food crops. In exchange of the free use of fertile forest land, farmers must protect and nurture the tree seedlings until their canopy closes after which they move to a newly allocated plot. For sustainability, Community Forest Associations nearing the specific forest in liason with the Kenya Forest Services manages and coordinates the PELIS/TRELIS and may charge a small fee for management.

There is a ban on cutting, uprooting, harvesting and transportation of African Sandalwood that was effected in the year 2007 by the Government and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) to protect this endangered species that was being exploited thus reducing its regeneration for its valuable essential oils and fragrance.

Yes. Cocoa is an emerging tree species that forms part of agroforestry thus forms part of the 15 billion tree growing agenda. It can be grown in all agro-ecological zones suitable for coffee production with annual rainfall requirements of 1500 to 2500 mm and temperatures of 21 to 30 degree celcius. The trees mature by year three (3) with a lifespan of 30 to 40 years with yields of up to six (6) Kgs per tree per year.

The current forest cover in Kenya is 8.84% against a target of 30% cover by year 2032 through the 15 billion tree growing agenda while tree cover is at 12 %.