6. FOREST FIRE SITUATION IN KENYA

Kenya has a total area of 582,646 sq. km. Highlands forming most of the southwest and central parts as well watered and fertile. More than 70% of Kenya is classified as both arid and semi-arid (ASALS) characterised by low biological activity.

The country’s forests are concentrated in the moist central highlands where the human population and agricultural production are also concentrated. In the extensive semi-arid region, forests are mainly found on isolated hills and in discontinuous narrow bands along riverbeds.

Kenya gazetted forests comprise some 1.64 million hectares of land (about 3% of the land area). Outside the gazetted forests, there are other large tracks of forests in trustlands i.e. national parks, National reserves and private owned land covering about 0.5 million hectares.

This includes: -

1. Coastal forest region

2. Dry zone forest region

3. Mountain forest region

4. Western Mau forest region

Because of intensive degradation of the closed forest, serious plantation establishment was started in 1946.

Cutting of the valuable natural hardwood has been banned due to its unsustainability. The wood industry relies on softwoods from government forests.

Most of the forests, especially the high productive on including both indigenous and plantations are located in the relatively high fire prone areas. These fires continue to be one of the biggest forest health hazards. Within the Forest Department, there exists a forest fire protection unit. A conservator of forests is appointed at the Headquarters who:

(a) Plans, organises, equips, trains and provides a follow up supervision of a cost effective fire pre-suppression and suppression organisation at all levels with the Forest Department.

(b) Develops a comprehensive nation-wide program designed to create awareness of the need for the fire protection and control.

(c) Plans the implementation of risk and hazard reduction.

In the field, our District and Station Forest Officers organise and supervise the activities of prevention and suppression of forest fires within their areas.

Equipment available includes, vehicles, tractors, water bowsers, pump units with hoses, knapsack sprayers and handtools.

Firebreaks and forest boundaries are established and maintained on regular basis to keep fires from spreading in between plantations and from neighbouring settled reserves.

Fire detention is carried out through ground patrols and fixed stations (fire towers). A few of them have radio system, vehicle, motorcycle and bicycles. When a fire occurs a comprehensive fire report is compiled detailing the location, area burnt suppression cost and the actual damage to the forest.

Number of fires and area burned: Kenya 1980 - 1999

Average annual number of fires: -=78 Fires annually.

All fires in Kenya are started by people. Of these fires, 40% are classified as arson, 20% are caused by negligence and carelessness, and 40% are due to unknown causes.

Campaigns through public meetings are organised before the declaration of the fire danger season to create awareness in the need to prevent any forest fires and action to be taken in case a fire is detected.