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Programme Population growth in Kenya has led to increased demand for industrial wood and conversion of forest land to other uses such as agriculture, settlement and urban development. Industrial forest plantations are the main sources of industrial wood particularly for the plywood and construction industry. Currently, the area under industrial forest unlikely to increase as the Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2007 on Forest Policy gives priority to the management and conservation of indigenous forests. In addition, the major fast growing commercial plantation species in Kenya are few, and mainly exotic. |
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To meet the growing demand for industrial wood, the Programme aims to increase wood productivity through: diversification of commercial
plantation species, genetic improvement of the major plantation species, and application of viable silvicultural systems. The main focus and activities of Industrial Forest Plantations Research Programme include: * Genetic improvement of major plantation species. * Development and demonstration of alternative plantation species including indigenous species and hybrids. * Development of integrated strategies for management of insect pests and diseases. * Development of management guidelines for plantation species. * Development of growth models for major commercial plantation species. * Development of web-based decision support systems for plantation forestry. * Development of methodologies for forest inventory. |
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KENYA FORESTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE P.O Box 20412 - 00200 Nairobi Tel: +254-724-259781/2, +254-722-157414 Wireless +254-2010651/2 Fax 254-20-2386353 |
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