FOREST AND FORESTRY

Forest

A forest is a large piece of land or an area covered by trees and undergrowth.

According to geography, a forest is a water catchment area which supports agriculture and hydro-
electric power (H.E.P) generation.

Forestry

Forestry is the science of developing and managing forests including cultivating them.

Types of Forests

1. Natural Forest – grows by natural means of seed dispersal. Amazon forest is an example
of a natural forest.
2. Semi-natural/derived/cultivated forests – it’s a forest which is in the process of recovering
from the interference by man.
3. Planted/cultivated forest – a forest that have been planted by man.
4. Indigenous forests – a forest which is native to a region or which have grown in region
from the beginning.
5. Exotic forests – a forest which have trees which have been introduced to a place from
other countries.

FACTORS INFLUENCING TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION OF FORESTS.

1. Temperature.
 High temperature causes fast growth of trees while low temperature causes slow
growth of trees.
 Rain forests are found at low altitudes which are warmer while coniferous forests
are found at high altitudes which are cooler.
2. Aspect.
 Dense forests are found on windward slopes of the mountains because they are
wetter than leeward slopes and they start at lower level than on the leeward
slopes.
 In temperate region slopes facing equator have dense forests because they are
warmer while those facing the poles have coniferous forests which are adapted to
low temperatures.
3. Precipitation.
 There are dense forests where there is heavy precipitation while there is less
forests cover consisting stunted trees in areas with little precipitation.
 Coniferous forests have cone-shaped crowns to allow snow to slide off so as not to
accumulate on the branches and cause them to break off.
 4. Soil.
Deep soils support huge tropical trees while shallow soils support coniferous trees
which shallow and wide spread root system to be able to maximally utilise water
on the top soil since the sub soil is permanently frozen.
 Poor or infertile soils have stunted trees.
5. Human Activities.
 Deforestation and shifting cultivation - man has cleared forests to create room for
agriculture and settlement which has reduced forest cover on the earth surface.
 Afforestation and Agroforestry - man has planted trees in areas where they never
existed establishing forests there.
 Reafforestation – man has planted forests which have been cleared with
indigenous and exotic trees causing natural forests to become
semi-natural/secondary/derived forests.

IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS IN KENYA.

1. Forests are water catchment areas which support agriculture and Hydro-electric Power
generation.
2. Forests provide us with wood fuel e.g. firewood, charcoal and sawdust.
3. Forests prevent soil erosion by there roots binding the soil together, reducing runoff
thereby reducing incidents of flooding and dam siltation.
4. Forests are habitats of wild animals which are a tourist attractions which brings foreign
exchange used to import goods and services and fund development projects.
5. Forests are sources of timber for construction and furniture making.
6. Forests regulate the climate of an area by creating a micro climate causing heavy and
frequent rain by evapotranspiration and lowering temperature.
7. Forests beautify the environment by flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
8. Some forest trees are sources of medicine.
9. Forests provide employment to people e.g. forest guards, forest officers, lumberjacks,
carpenters timber merchants.
10. Presence of forests have led to the development of infrastructure as roads have been
constructed to make forests accessible.

IMPORTANCE OF FOREST PRODUCTS.

 Forests are sources of food e.g. fruits, mushroom and bamboo tender leaves which
are used for vegetables.
 Forests provide wood used for Manufacture of paper, soft boards and ply wood.
 Animals in the forest are hunted for food, skin and horns.
 Leaves of trees and forest undergrowth are used as livestock fodder.
 Forest flora and fauna are a rich reservoir for research.
 Forests provide wood which is used in cottage industries for making carvings and
wooden utensils which are sold locally and exported.

PROBLEMS FACING FORESTRY IN KENYA.

  Encroachment by people by clearing them to create room for agriculture and settlement,
grazing which puts some animal species and plants in danger of extinction.
 Destruction especially of young trees by herbivorous wild animals such as elephants due to
rapid increase in the population.
 Destruction of huge tracts of forests by fire caused by poachers, honey harvesters
especially during the dry season.
 Pests and diseases outbreak which can result in destruction of large tracts of land with
valuable tree species.
 Over-exploitation where by the trees are harvested at a high rate than which they are
being replaced naturally and also harvesting of immature trees.

MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF FORESTS.

Conservation of forests is the protection of forests against interference and destruction by man
while forest conservation is the effective planning and control of forests and forest resources.

Conservation Measures.

 Creation of forest reserves to protect indigenous forests from extinction e.g. Mount Kenya
forest, Shimba Hills and Arabuko Sokoke.
 Setting of forest guard posts in the forest to protect forest against illegal logging ( tree
felling).
 Setting Nyayo Tea Zone to act as protective belts to prevent people from trespassing into
the forests. They are also a source of employment and foreign exchange.
 Practicing afforestation and reafforestation.
 Acts as wind breakers and shades to crops.

Management Measures.

 Research to determine which tree species are suitable for which area and how to combat
pest and diseases outbreak.
 Carrying out public campaigns through mass media on the importance of forests.
 Use of alternative sources of energy e.g. sun, wind, biogas and water to reduce the rate of
tree felling.
 Use of energy saving stoves to reduce the rate of overexploitation of wood fuel
 Control of pests and diseases which affects trees
 Improvement on cutting practices by selective falling of trees and replanting more tress
than those cut.

Importance of Forest Management and Conservation.

o Are a source of utility products e.g. firewood for fuel and food from fruits and nuts.
o For posterity i.e. so that the future generation will have forest resources available for
there use.
 o Industrial reasons because forest products are used as row materials in the industries
such as furniture and paper making.
o Forests are important to scientific research such as on herbal medicine and genetic
mapping of the species of plants and animals which haven’t been identified.

SOFTWOOD FORESTS IN KENYA AND CANADA.

Factors favouring the development of softwood forests in;

KENYA.

1) Cool climate of Kenya highlands which enables coniferous forests to thrive e.g. Mount
Kenya and Aberdares.
2) Heavy rainfall received in Kenya highlands and low evaporation rates which supports
forest growth.
3) Ruggedness and steepness of some parts of Kenya highlands making them unsuitable for
settlements thereby leaving forest to thrive.
4) High demand for timber and wood products locally and outside the country which
encourages tree farming.

CANADA.

1) Cool and cold climate which favours the growth of coniferous forests.
2) Very low average temperatures in the interior which favours the growth of coniferous
forests.
3) Ruggedness and steepness such as of British Columbia which discourages agriculture and
settlement leaving forest to thrive.
4) Very low population density leaving a lot of land available for forests.
5) Heavy rainfall on the windward slopes of mountain ranges of British Columbia and low
evaporation in the east giving sufficient moisture to sustain forests.

Mode of Exploitation.

 Workers are transported daily to logging sites in Kenya while in Canada settlements are set
for workers within the forest.
 Power saws are used in both countries to fell tress while axes are used to a limited extent
in Kenya.
 In Kenya transportation of logs is by tractors and lorries while in Canada rivers are widely
used to transport logs by floating.
 In both countries logging is systematic and it is done in blocks

Factors favouring exploitation of softwoods in;

KENYA.

a) Doesn’t experience winter so logging can go on throughout the year.

 b) Softwood forest in Kenya are easier to exploit because trees are planted in rows
unlike in Kenya where they are natural and trees grow haphazardly.
c) In Kenya forests are accessible throughout the year unlike in Canada where forests
in North are inaccessible during severe winter and ruggedness.
d) In Kenya logging can go on throughout the year because there is no winter.
e) Availability of water from River Nzoia for pulp and paper manufacture at Webuye.
f) Ready market due high demand of wood products locally and outside in COMESA.

CANADA.

a) Mild winters in British Columbia which makes it possible to transport logs throughout the
year.
b) Availability of water from many rivers providing plenty of water for paper and pulp
manufacture.
c) Cheap hydro-electric power for factories from many rivers in Canada.
d) High demand for forest products in the neighbouring U.S.A. and locally due to high
purchasing power.
e) Absence of undergrowth which makes exploitation easy due to dead leaves resulting in
acidic humus.

Planted softwoods in Kenya.

 Planted in rows.
 Clear cutting.
 Mature at the same time.

NOTE: In Kenya and Canada products are poles sawn timber, pulp, paper, block board, ply wood,
clip board etc.

ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SOFTWOODS IN BOTH COUNTRIES.

i. Provides employment to people e.g. lumberjacks, tree farmers and in timber related
industries.
ii. Has led to the development of timber/wood related industries e.g. furniture and paper
manufacture.
iii. A foreign exchange earner when in Canada timber is exported to U.S.A and products in
Kenya are exported to COMESA.
iv. Saving some foreign exchange when the country produce wood products to cater for their
needs in which they’d otherwise spend foreign exchange.
v. Infrastructural development when roads are constructed to ease transportation of logs to
industries and products to market.
vi. Provide income to tree farmers.

Problems in Kenya and Canada.

 1. Forest fires which destroys large tracts of land where in Canada the greatest number of
fires are caused by lightning while in Kenya they are cased by illegal loggers and poachers.
2. Pests and diseases e.g. aphids which destroys cypress.
3. Overexploitation leading to soil erosion as trees takes long time to mature and provide
sufficient cover to the soil after planting.
4. In Canada there is a problem of inaccessibility of forest in the northern part in winter and
due to rugged terrain while in Kenya they are planted and easily accessible.

Comparison of softwood forests in Kenya and Canada.

Similarities.

 Softwood forest in both countries experience the problem of pest and diseases, fires, soil
erosion and overexploitation.
 In both countries softwood forests products are similar e.g. sawn timber, wood pulp,
paper and poles.
 Softwood forests in both countries grow in places with heavy rainfall, cool temperatures
and rugged terrain.
 Forest products earn foreign exchange in both countries.
 In both countries, trees species are similar e.g. pine tree.

Differences.

 Species of trees differs e.g. in Kenya, there is Kenya cedor and podo while in
Canada there is Douglas fir and white pine.
 Canada’s softwoods are mainly natural while Kenya’s are mostly planted.
 Kenya’s softwood forests are found in highlands while Canada’s are found in low
lands due to cool temperatures.
 Canada’s softwoods covers large track of land than Kenya’s.
 Canada’s softwood forest take long to mature that Kenya’s due to severe winter
temperatures.
 Kenya’s softwood forest are planted in rows and easily exploitable Canada’s which
grow naturally and haphazardly.