Review Article
Assessing Key Non-wood Forest Products in Kenya: Insights for Conservation and Sustainable Development
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
144-151
Received:
19 May 2025
Accepted:
5 June 2025
Published:
30 June 2025
Abstract: Non-wood forest products (NWFP) present opportunities for diversifying livelihoods in Kenya especially in the arid and semi-arid lands. This paper examines the current status, investment opportunities, challenges, and potential mitigation measures in key non-wood forest product value chains in Kenya in relation to conservation and sustainable development. It focuses on aloe, gums and resins, dyes and tannins, indigenous fruits and, honey and bee products. The study adopted a desk-based literature review methodology, drawing on research outputs from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and other scholarly and policy-related sources. A structured value chain lens was used to examine technological, institutional, and infrastructural factors influencing the development of NWFPs. Key findings focusing on current practices, existing technologies, gaps and inefficiencies, infrastructure bottlenecks and opportunities for upgrading are presented, along with lessons learned and recommendations for improving the development of these value chains. Major challenges identified include technological limitations in harvesting and processing, natural resource availability and degradation issues, inadequate technical capacity and extension services, high investment and operational costs, financial constraints, weak market linkages and value addition, and gaps in policy and legal frameworks. Despite these constraints, the review highlights several investment opportunities. These include the development of forest-based bio-enterprises, the expansion of local and international markets, implementation of certification and quality standards, capacity-building and knowledge transfer programs, increasing demand for forest products, and enhanced governance and support through Kenya's devolved government system. The ongoing review of The Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016 is also noted as a potential enabler of growth in these sectors. This paper offers valuable insights for investors, researchers, policymakers, farmers, students and other stakeholders aiming to support evidence-based planning and the sustainable commercialization of NWFPs in Kenya.
Abstract: Non-wood forest products (NWFP) present opportunities for diversifying livelihoods in Kenya especially in the arid and semi-arid lands. This paper examines the current status, investment opportunities, challenges, and potential mitigation measures in key non-wood forest product value chains in Kenya in relation to conservation and sustainable devel...
Show More
Research Article
Gum Arabic Research in Sudan During the Period 2000-2025 a Review Paper for Some of Research Activities During the Period 2000-2025
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
152-168
Received:
9 June 2025
Accepted:
25 June 2025
Published:
19 July 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20251303.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: This paper is an attempt to review some of the research work that was carried out by the Gum Arabic Research Division (GRD) during the period 2000 to 2025. The objectives is to give a highlight about the research finding that provided by the Gum Arabic Research Division and to disseminate these finding to the gum producers, stakeholders such as companies, forest administrations, producers association and the other relevant research institutes. During the period 2000-2025 many research excrement’s were carried out by the gum arabic research scientist at El-Obeid, Kadugli and Nyala Research Stations. These experiments include tapping tools, date of tapping, tapping intensity, position of tapping (branch, lower stem, middle stem, and higher stem), tapping direction, the relationship between climatic factors, tapping and gum arabic yield, provenances trails and agroforestry trails. For tapping tools, the Sonki (new innovative tool developed by GRD) is found as a best tool for tapping Acacia senegal trees. It is reported that it has muti-function where it could be used for tapping the tree and harvesting the gum. The GRD was found that gum arabic yield was greatly influenced by tapping date, the gum yield (g/tree and g/picking) was higher when the trees were tapped on the 15th of October and 1st of November compared with other date of tapping. The GRD found that gum arabic yield prediction shortly before or after tapping is a achievable either by knowing the commencement of tapping or by knowing yield of the first picking. For the effect of tapping in various azimuth angles on gum arabic yield we found that gum yield of Acacia senegal increase by 67.6 and up to two folds as due to tapping in the Eastern and Western Sides of the branches towards direct sun light. 15 Acacia senegal provenances were examined in the nursery and under field conditions to identify which provenances that capable to grow and survive under a diverse environmental conditions at Eldamokey forest reserve. All A. senegal provenances gave a higher survival percentage of more than 90% under the dry climatic conditions at the experimental site. For agroforestry research it was found that intercropping of of Acacia senegal with groundnut, sesame and roselle provide a good household income from gum arabic production which can easily compensate for other crop yield losses. For tree spacing the finding from GRD indicated that crops yield and straw were affected by tree spacing thus recorded higher yield under wider spacing compared with the narrow ones. LER was higher under agroforestry system as compared to mono-cropping. The study concluded that gum arabic yield was greatly influenced by tapping date and tapping intensity. The gum yield of Acacia senegal increase due to tapping in the Eastern and Western Sides of the branches towards direct sun light. From and economical point of view, it is recommended that roselle and sesame can be intercropped with A. senegal.
Abstract: This paper is an attempt to review some of the research work that was carried out by the Gum Arabic Research Division (GRD) during the period 2000 to 2025. The objectives is to give a highlight about the research finding that provided by the Gum Arabic Research Division and to disseminate these finding to the gum producers, stakeholders such as com...
Show More
,
Rose Chiteva
