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In this lesson we are going to discuss the Management and Conservation of Forests

Answer Text:
Management and
Conservation of Forests
Conservation of forests is
protection of forests against
interference and destruction
by man while forest
management is effective
planning and control of forests
and forest resources.
Conservation Measures
1. Creation of forest reserves
to protect indigenous forests
from extinction e.g. Mt.
Kenya forest, Shimba Hills
and Arabuko Sokoke.
2. Setting of forest guard posts
in the forests to protect forests
against illegal logging (tree
felling).
3. Setting Nyayo Tea Zones to
act as protective belts to
prevent people from
trespassing into the forests.
They are also a source of
employment and foreign
exchange.
4. Afforestation and
reafforestation.
5. Agroforestry (intercropping
of various crops with trees)
which:
• Supplies wood resources
• Provides animal fodder
• Provide food e.g. fruits e.g.
mangoes and avocadoes for
good health and nutrition
• Acts as wind breakers and
• Shade for crops.
Management Measures
1. Research to determine
which tree species are suitable
for which area and how to
combat pests and diseases
outbreak.
2. Carrying out public
campaigns through mass
media on the importance of
forests. 3. Use of alternative
sources of energy e.g. sun,
wind, biogas and water to
reduce the rate of tree felling.
4. Use of energy saving stoves
to reduce the rate of over
exploitation of wood fuel.
5. Improvement on cutting
practices by selective falling
of trees and replanting more
trees than those cut.
6. Control of pests and
diseases which affect trees.
Importance of Forest
Management and
Conservation
1. Are a source of utility
products e.g. firewood for fuel
and food from fruits and nuts.
2. For ecological reasons in
that they help in the
following ways:
• To preserve flora and fauna
• It’s a water catchment area
• Moderating the flow of water
reducing soil erosion and
floods which also prevents
siltation of dams.
3. For posterity i.e. so that the
future generation will have
forest resources available for
their use.
4. Industrial reasons because
forest products are used as
raw materials in the industries
such as furniture, paper
making, etc.
5. Forests are important for
scientific research such as on
herbal medicine and genetic
mapping of the species of
plants and animals which
haven’t been identified.