General

The overall objective of the concept proposal “Sustainable Use of Natural Resources for Environment and Economic Development, shortly SUNREED” is to increase the sustainable use of private forest resources and value chain development on renewable energy based on wood biomass (district heating system) that will generate a higher volume of forest goods and income opportunities to rural households. The project proposals goal will be achieved through the following two outcomes: Outcome 1: Private forest owners have increased value and sustainability of the forest stand ecosystems. Outcome 2: Value chains actors have increased wood biomass production, processing and final use. The implementing partner is CNVP Foundation. The project will be focused on addressing key constraint faced by the private forest owners and provide support to them in collecting evidence and advocating for policy and legal changes with public institutions in favor of private forestry.

Objectives

The overall objective of the program is: Poverty reduction for both women and men in forest areas through additional income and jobs from sustainably managed forests including wood biomass, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), Non-Wood Forest Product (NWFPs) and carbon backed up by an enabling policy environment and supported by sustainable service provision by National Association of Private Forest Owners (NAPFO) and Association of Private Forest Owners (APFOs). To reach this objective the following outputs and outcomes have been proposed: Outcome 1: Increased incomes for Private Forest Owners (PFO) including women as a result of improved forest management and engagement in NWFP / MAP market systems There are 4 outputs that relate to this outcome: Output 1.1: Increased and diversified production from sustainably managed forest land; Output 1.2: Enhanced and sustainable service delivery by APFOs and the NAPFO to their members; Output 1.3: Women and youth living in rural areas engaged in forest-related market systems; Output 1.4: Enabling policy environment promoted, including a road-map for developing a carbon market. Outcome 2: A market system for wood biomass (wood chips), providing incentives for proper forest management and income generation for PFOs, and leading to reduced greenhouse gas impact Interventions that will lead to the realisation of this outcome can be grouped into 4 key outputs: Output 2.1: Output 2.1 Development of a national roadmap on wood biomass production, marketing and use Output 2.2: Establishment of four pilot wood biomass collection points supported; Output 2.3: At least 10 heating systems based on wood biomass promoted; Output 2.4: Increased information, capacities and learning on wood biomass market systems.

General

The Green Zones Development Support Project-Phase II was conceived by the Government of Kenya (GoK) and builds on success of the concluded GZDSP-1 project. GZDSP-1 contributed to the rehabilitation and protection for regeneration of 309,000ha of degraded forest land translating to 0.54% increase in the national forest cover and significantly increased (by 25%) the annual incomes of 375,912 households (40% female-headed) through direct employment, and income generating activities. The proposed project will provide new and more efficient ways of increasing forest cover, increasing food security, improve community livelihood through sustainable and inclusive commodity value chain and market development. It will be implemented in fifteen counties in Kenya namely; Embu, Meru, Machakos, Tharaka-Nithi, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Baringo, Kericho, Bomet, Nyamira and Kisii. These counties cover four forest conservancies and three out of five Kenya’s water towers including Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, and the Mau complex. The counties were selected based on levels of forest degradation, social economic and environmental vulnerability. The project, which will be implemented over a period of 6 years (2018-2024), comprises three main components (i) Forest Conservation and Livelihood Support (ii) Sustainable and Inclusive Value Chains Development and (iii) Project Management and Coordination. The total cost including price and physical contingencies, but excluding duties and taxes, is estimated at UA 37.50 million.

Objectives

The objective of the project is to improve forest conservation and livelihoods for sustainable forest management in 15 counties in Kenya. The specific objectives are (i) to enhance forest conservation and livelihood support for climate change resilience and (ii) to develop timber, bamboo, potato, cereals and pulses value chains for improved household incomes.

Target Groups

The direct beneficiaries of the project are estimated at 167,083 households out of which 40% (66,833) will be 8 women. Indirectly, the project will benefit 501,249 people within the project area. It will also assist the county governments in capacity building and technical support.