Kenya Commercial Forestry Investment Conference & Expo 2021-Hybrid Event | Kenya Forestry Research Institute | 23 November 2021 | Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri)-Head Office, Karuri Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, Kenya

About Event
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) is organizing a Commercial Forestry Investment Conference to be held at KEFRI headquarters from 23rd – 26 th November 2021. The objective of the conference is to provide a platform for exchange of knowledge, experiences and the potential of commercial forestry investment in Kenya. The theme of the conference is

“Commercial Forestry Investment for Wealth Creation, Enhancing Manufacturing, Food Security, Health and attainment of 10% tree cover in Kenya’’.

The conference will bring together stakeholders in the commercial forestry sector including; practitioners, researchers, wood processors and investors. The conference is an opportunity for the stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences on the status of the commercial forestry sector, challenges and opportunities for investment. The conference will showcase and exhibit new technologies and opportunities that investors can tap into.

Key event highlights:
• Tree Seed Production, Distribution and Trade.
• Forest Plantation and Management.
• Forest Product Processing Value Addition and Technologies.
• Bamboo Production, Processing and Utilization.
• Regional Trade for Key Products.
• Investment and Financing Models for Forestry Sector.
• Education and Skills Development for Commercial Forestry.
• Policy Legislation and Governance.

Objectives of the Conference
• The specific objectives of the conference are to:
• Provide a national and international platform to share knowledge, experiences and opportunities in commercial forestry sector in Kenya and within the region.
• Provide an avenue for stakeholders and development partners to exhibit and showcase current technologies in the commercial forestry sector in Kenya .
• Provide a platform for discussions and exchange of ideas and innovative thinking among stakeholders on the future of commercial forestry sector.
• Provide recommendations for promotion of commercial forestry in Kenya.

Commercial Forestry Conference & Expo Concept
Potential for Commercial Forestry in Kenya
The Kenyan population is projected to increase from the current 47.6 million (KNBS, 2019) to over 80 million people in 2050 (The World Bank, 2010; Population pyramid, 2020). This increase will translate into increased demand for forestry products to support other sectors of the economy such as construction (timber), and energy (fuel wood and charcoal). Currently, Kenya has an annual wood deficit of approximately 10.3 million m3 (GoK, 2013).

Industrialization and urbanization due to population growth will increase demand of wood products to approximately 66 million m3 by 2030 thus tripling the wood deficit in the country (Gatsby Africa, 2019).The country is only able to meet 70% of its demand through sustainable supply and this has caused small and medium–sized enterprises to operate below capacity. The deficit is met through formal and informal imports as well as unsustainable extraction from public natural forests in the country.

2021 Sponsors

• Base Titanium
• UNDP
• Family Bank
• Better Globe Forestry
• Kenya Climate Innovation
• Gatsby Africa
• Jica
• KCB Bank
• Inbar
• NRF
• Kefri
• Kenya Forest Service
• Sukulima Sacco
• Food and Agriculture Origanization of the United Nations
• Komaza
• We Effect
• Kakuzi
• Forestry
• One Acre Fund