Illegal Deforestation For Forest-Risk Agricultural Commodities Dashboard: Kenya
Forest Trends
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Abstract: This Forest Trends dashboard offers a detailed diagnostic of the links between agricultural commodities and illegal deforestation in Kenya. It identifies that 85% of forest loss is attributed to shifting cultivation, with key forest-risk commodities (FRCs) including cattle, maize, beans, pulses, and vegetables?largely for domestic consumption. Tea, tobacco, and coffee are highlighted as export-oriented commodities also linked to deforestation, often through illegal land conversion and firewood use. The study maps production growth, deforestation risk, and governance weaknesses across ecosystems like montane, dryland, and coastal forests. Despite Kenya?s policy frameworks and reforestation targets, weak enforcement, excisions of public forests, and the controversial shamba/PELIS system enable continued degradation. The dashboard also examines forest ownership, emissions (50 Mt CO?e annually), and sector-specific risks. It calls for urgent institutional reforms to address governance gaps, promote traceability, and curb illegal agricultural expansion into protected landscapes.