The Kenya Forest Service is an agency of the Government of Kenya designated by the Forest Act of 2005^[1] as the replacement for the old Forest Department.^[2] It is overseen by the Board of the Kenya Forest Service. The former Forest Department was supported almost entirely from forest revenues, and was, as a result, chronically underfunded.^[3] Under the 2005 Forest Act this has changed somewhat, with for example, the creation of special funds such as the Water Towers Conservation Fund,^[4][5] a portion of which goes to forest rehabilitation, and the Mau Rehabilitation Trust Fund, for the Mau Forest.^[6] As of 2003^[update], Kenya had 1.57 million hectares of gazetted forest.^[7]

Mission

Among the responsibilities of the Kenya Forest Service are to:

• Own,^[9] manage and protect all state forests^[10]
• Promote forestry education and training^[10] and operate the Kenya Forestry College^[11]
• Enforce the conditions and regulations pertaining to logging, charcoal making and other forest utilisation activities^[10]
• Apprehend and prosecute violators of forest law and regulations^[12][13]
• Collect revenues from exploitation of forest products^[12]

Forest management plans

The Kenya Forest Service has begun issuing management plans for individual forests. Plans are in effect for:

• Arabuko-Sokoke Forest^[14][15]
• Cherangani Hills Forest consisting of thirteen blocks including the Embobut Forest^[16][17][18]
• Karura Forest^[19]
• Kereita Forest^[20]
• Mau Forest
• Saboti-Sosio Forest, a Green Zones Development Support Project supported plan^[21]
• South Nandi Forest, a Green Zones Development Support Project and Nature Kenya supported plan^[21][22]
• Vanga, Jimbo and Kiwegu Mangrove Forest, an Air Kenya supported plan^[23]