The latest data from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) show that between 2015 and 2017, Kenya gained an average of 0.83 per cent of forest land.
The proportion of forest area within the legally established protected area has also remained at 33.46 per cent while the proportion of forest area under the Long Term Forest Management Plan has remained at 4.34 per cent since the year 2000.
According to the data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) under the Compendium of Environment Statistics 2023, the forest area in Kenya was 7.28 per cent in 2018 from 6.96 per cent in 2000 due to good forest management.
However, between 2000 and 2010, Kenya lost an average of 0.91 per cent per year of forest land.
“This loss declined to a loss of 0.52 per cent between 2010 and 2015,” the report notes.
Top 10 counties with highest forest cover in Kenya
Based on the latest report, Nyeri is the top county with the highest forest cover in the country at 38 per cent, closely followed by Elgeyo Marakwet with 37.5 per cent.
Third is Lamu with 33.9 per cent forest cover. Those three are the only devolved units in Kenya with over 30 per cent forest cover.
Here’s the full list of the top 10 counties with the highest forest cover.
10. Nandi – 16.8%
9. Murang’a – 18.3%
8. Nyandarua – 18.4%
7. Tharaka Nithi – 19.4%
6. Kirinyaga – 20.7%
5. Kericho – 23.7%
4. Baringo – 25.1%
3. Lamu – 33.9%
2. Elgeyo Marakwet – 37.7%
1. Nyeri – 38.0%
Other counties with a forest cover above 10 per cent include Narok (16.7%), Kiambu (16.6%), Trans Nzoia (16.1%), Bungoma (14.9%), Makueni (13.1%), Samburu (12.8%) and Bomet (12.7%).
Forest cover for North Rift counties
In the North Rift region, Elgeyo Marakwet county which is ranked second nationally is top with 37.7 per cent, followed by Nandi which is 10th nationally with 16.8 per cent cover.
Trans Nzoia has a 16.1 per cent cover while West Pokot has 8.4 per cent followed by Uasin Gishu (7.5%).
Kisumu and Siaya counties have the lowest forest cover nationally, both with 0.4 per cent.
