TROPICAL RAINFORESTS: Deforestation rates tables and charts

Kenya Forest Information and Data

According to the U.N. FAO, 6.1% or about 3,467,000 ha of Kenya is forested, according to FAO. Of this 18.9% ( 654,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Kenya had 197,000 ha of planted forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Kenya lost an average of 12,050 ha or 0.32% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Kenya lost 6.5% of its forest cover, or around 241,000 ha.

Kenya's forests contain 476 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Kenya has some 1847 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 4.0% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 3.8% are threatened. Kenya is home to at least 6506 species of vascular plants, of which 4.1% are endemic. 6.0% of Kenya is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

2011 Update

In May 2011, Sassan Saatchi of Caltech's Jet Propulsion Lab and colleagues published a paper in PNAS with
new carbon stock estimates for global tropical forests.

Forest definition (canopy cover %)10% tree cover25% tree cover30% tree cover
Forest Area (M ha)422
Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C)1608669
Belowground forest carbon (Mt C)492621
Total forest carbon (Mt C)20911190
Average Carbon Density (t C/ha)475457
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values

Kenya Environmental profile

The following contains data relating to forest cover in Kenya

Previous version of this profile (2009)

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Deforestation | Primary forest | Planted forest | Forest designation | Forest ownership | Growing stock | Carbon stock | Disturbances affecting forest land | Removals | Removals Value | Employment | Forest policy | Human resources | Revenue | Agreements | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books










 Home
 What's New
 About
 Rainforests
   Mission
   Introduction
   Characteristics
   Biodiversity
   The Canopy
   Forest Floor
   Forest Waters
   Indigenous People
   Deforestation
   Consequences
   Saving Rainforests
   Amazon
   Borneo
   Congo
   New Guinea
   Sulawesi
   REDD
   Country Profiles
   Statistics
   Works Cited
   For Kids
   For Teachers
   Photos/Images
   Expert Interviews
   Rainforest News
  Forest data
   Global deforestation
   Tropical deforestation
   By country
   Deforestation charts
   Regional forest data
   Deforestation drivers
 XML Feeds
 Pictures
 Books
 Education
 Newsletter
 Contact






Kenya: Forest Cover, 2010
Total Land Area (1000 ha)56914
Total Forest Area (1000 ha)3467
Percent Forest Cover6
Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha)654
Primary Forest, % total forest19
Other wooded land (1000 ha)28650
Percent other wooded land50




Kenya: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area)65419
Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area)261675
Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area)1976


Kenya: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
3708358235223467
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-13-12-11
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-0.35-0.34-0.31


Kenya: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
3470.003370.003320.003270.00
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-10-10.00-10.00
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-0.3-0.29-0.30


Kenya: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
694674664654
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-2-2-2
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-0.29-0.30-0.30


Kenya: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
238212202197
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-3-2-1
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-1.15-0.96-0.50


Kenya: Primary designated function (percent)
ProductionProtection of soil and waterConservation of biodiversitySocial servicesMultiple useOtherNone or unknown
69400000


Kenya: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
OWNERSHIP PATTERN
Public ownershipPrivate ownershipOther
39610


PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
IndividualsBusiness entities and institutionsLocal, indigenous and tribal communities
n.s.496


HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS
Public administrationIndividualsBusiness entities and InstitutionsCommunitiesOther
1000000
Kenya: Growing stock in forest
GROWING STOCK IN FOREST
Total
(million m3)
Per hectare
(m3)
Coniferous
(million m3)
Broadleaved
(million m3)
% commercial species
629181605699
GROWING STOCK IN FOREST
Total (million m3)Per hectare (m3)Coniferous (million m3)Broadleaved (million m3)% commercial species
45816


Kenya: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons)
1990200020052010
525503489476
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons)
2000
137
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr)
1990200020052010
-2-3-3
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr)
1990200020052010
n.s.n.s.n.s.


Kenya: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
FOREST FIRE
1000 ha% wild fire (not managed burn)
2100


EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE
InsectsDiseasesOther biotic agentsAbiotic factorsTotal (excluding fire)% of 2005 forest area
------


Kenya: Trends in removals of wood products 1990-2005
INDUSTRIAL ROUNDWOOD
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark)
199020002005percent of which from forest 2005
200322131646100
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark)
199020002005percent of which from forest 2005
193812263127359100


Kenya: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$)
Value per ha forest
(US$)
Industrial roundwoodWoodfuelNWFPTotal
-----


Kenya: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees)
199020002005
---
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees)
199020002005
222
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees)
199020002005
---


Kenya: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (2006)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2007) Temporarily suspended
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (2005) Sub-national forest law: No

Kenya: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
200020052008
#% female#% female#% female
----535120


Kenya: Forest revenue and public expenditure on forestry 2005
Forest revenuePublic expenditure (1000 US$)
Domestic fundingExternal fundingTotal
(1000 US$)Operational expenditureTransfer paymentsOperational expenditureTransfer paymentsOperational expenditureTransfer payments
-------


Kenya: Status of ratification of international conventions and agreements as of 1 January 2010
  • CbD:
  • UNFCCC:
  • Kyoto Protocol:
  • UNCCD:
  • ITTA:
  • CITeS:
  • Ramsar:
  • World Heritage Convention:
  • NlbI: [an error occurred while processing this directive] Kenya: Environment
    Environment - current issueswater pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
    Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    Natural hazardsrecurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons


    Kenya: Land use / Resources
    Land use (%)arable land: 8.08%
    permanent crops: 0.98%
    other: 90.94% (2001)
    Natural resourceslimestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower


    Kenya: Economy
    Economy - overview:The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the key 27 December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. In 2003, progress was made in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support. GDP grew 5% in 2005.
    GDP - per capita$1,200 (2005 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate (%)5% (2005 est.)
    Agriculture - productstea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
    GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 16.3%, industry: 18.8%, services: 65.1% (2004 est.)
    Industries small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products; oil refining, aluminum, steel, lead, cement; commercial ship repair, tourism
    Economic aid - recipient$453 million (1997)
    Debt - external$7.349 billion (2005 est.)
    Population below poverty line (%)50% (2000 est.)
    Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 75% (2003 est.)


    Kenya: Population / Demographics
    Population (July 2005)33,829,590
    Population growth rate (%) (2005)2.56%
    Population density (people/sq km) (2005)59.4
    Percent rural (2003)60.6%
    Median age (years)total: 18.19 years
    Total fertility rate (children born/woman)4.96 (2005 est.)
    Ethnic groups (%)Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%


    Largest Cities in Kenya

    Cities and urban areas in Kenya with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.

    CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
    NairobiKenya25108003043100
    MombasaKenya707400707400
    NakuruKenya337200337200
    KisumuKenya273400273400
    EldoretKenya249100249100
    NyeriKenya213000213000
    MachakosKenya179500179500
    MeruKenya140900140900


    Kenya: Infrastructure
    Telephones - main lines in use328,400 (2003)
    Telephones - mobile cellular1,590,800 (2003)
    Roadways (km)total: 63,942 km
    paved: 7,737 km
    unpaved: 56,205 km (2000)


    Kenya: Health
    Life expectancy at birth (years)total population: 47.99 years
    male: 48.87 years
    female: 47.09 years (2005 est.)
    Infant mortality rate61.47 deaths/1,000 live births
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)6.7% (2003 est.)
    Major infectious diseasesdegree of risk: very high
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
    vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
    water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

    Kenya : References & Data Sources
     Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
     Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005 & 2010) and the State of the World's Forests (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001)
     Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
     Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
     RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
     World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
     The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
     Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
     With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com



    Tropical rainforest information

     World Rainforests
     Rainforest Structure
     Rainforest Biodiversity
     Canopy
     Forest Floor
     Rainforest Waters
     Indigenous People
     Deforestation
     Global Importance


     Rainforest Conservation
     Country Reports update soon
     References
     Deforestation Tables
     The Amazon Rainforest update soon
     The Congo Rainforest update soon
     Deforestation in Brazil
     Rainforest Images




    Google
      Web
    mongabay.com
    Mongabay Rainforests
    Mongabay News
    Mongabay Photos

  • what's new | rainforests home | help support the site | madagascar | search | about | contact

    Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2006

    "Rainforest" is used interchangeably with "rain forest" on this site.
    Same for "rainforests" and "rain forests". "Jungle" is generally not used.