Republic of KenyaKenya Forest ServiceKenya NFMS-FIPNational Forest Monitoring System – Forest Information PlatformHealthy Forests • Resilient Ecosystems • People and Nature • Data for Action

Institutional Governance

KFS mandate, NFMS-FIP governance, roles, coordination and reporting arrangements.

Kenya Forest Service Mandate

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) was established by the Forest Act 2005 and continues under the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016 as the body responsible for the conservation, development and sustainable management of Kenya's forests.

  • Leads most NFMS monitoring and data management functions and hosts this Forest Information Platform.
  • Manages public forests and public plantation forests, with Community Forest Associations through participatory forest management.
  • REDD+ implementing institution: restoration, plantation productivity and protection of existing forest under the National REDD+ Strategy.
  • Contributes forest data to the national GHG inventory, the Forest Reference Level and REDD+ results.

Mandate, vision and mission

Kenya Forest Service (Strategic Plan 2023–2027)
MandateProvide for the development and sustainable management, including conservation and rational utilization, of all forest resources for the socio-economic development of the country and for connected purposes (Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016)
VisionTo be an internationally recognized organization of excellence in knowledge-based sustainable forest resources development, conservation and management
MissionConservation, management, development and sustainable utilization of forests and allied resources for current and future generations
Strategic goalSustainably manage all forests and build resilient forest ecosystems
Core valuesTeamwork; results oriented; integrity; scientific principles and professionalism; creativity and innovation

Functions of the Service (Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, section 8)

  • Conserve, protect and manage all public forests, and prepare and implement their management plans
  • Assist in preparing management plans for community and private forests, and keep a register of all forest management plans
  • Receive and consider applications for licences and permits; establish benefit-sharing arrangements
  • Help county governments build capacity in forestry; promote forestry education and training
  • Manage water catchment areas for soil and water conservation, carbon sequestration and other environmental services
  • Prepare a forest status report every two years and a forest resource assessment every five years for the Cabinet Secretary
  • Recommend the declaration and alteration of public forest boundaries; establish forest conservancy areas
  • Enforce the rules on importing, exporting and trading forest produce
  • Develop, maintain and regularly update a geographic information system database of all forests in Kenya (delivered through this platform)

Key result areas of the Strategic Plan

Key Result Area 1Forest and tree cover expansion for climate mitigation and adaptation
  1. Increase national tree cover from 12.13% to 21.03%, towards 30% by 2032
  2. Increase national forest cover from 8.83% to 10%, towards the national target of 10% by 2030
Key Result Area 2Conservation and protection of forests for climate change resilience
  1. Strengthen enforcement capacity in forest protection and secure corporate assets
  2. Improve governance for sustainable forest management
  3. Strengthen climate change actions and response capacities
  4. Reverse degradation of mangrove ecosystems for enhanced climate change mitigation
Key Result Area 3Economic development and livelihood improvement
  1. Strengthen nature-based enterprises for livelihoods and climate resilience
  2. Strengthen commercial forest plantations on public, community and private land
  3. Work with the private sector and stakeholders on climate finance and carbon projects
Key Result Area 4Organizational capacity building and collaboration
  1. Promote institutional operational efficiency and effectiveness to deliver on the mandate
  2. Strengthen partnerships and increase capacity for resource mobilization

Source: National REDD+ Strategy, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, December 2021; National Forest Monitoring System document (2021); Country Approach to Safeguards and Safeguards Information System, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, December 2021; Kenya Forest Service, Strategic Plan 2023–2027.