IReport 



ON 



FORESTRY IN KENYA COLONY 



By R. S. TROUP, C.I.E. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This Report is based on a visit to the Forests of Kenya Colony from the 

 9th September to the 8th October, and from the 1st to the 27th December, 

 1921, the intervening period being devoted to an inspection of the forests of 

 Uganda. The forests visited were those of Mt. Kenya, the West Aberdares 

 (Kinobop), West Mau, Tinderet, Eldama Ravine (Grorgan concession), 

 N. Nakuru, Naivasha, Escarpment, Royi, Lari, Ngong and Karura, as well as 

 the plantations of Lari, Kikuyu, Londiani, and other localities where the 

 reafforestation of areas cleared for railway fuel is in progress. Denuded 

 areas in native reserves were visited near Machakos in the Wakamba reserve 

 and in several parts of the Kikuyu reserve. Want of time prevented an 

 inspection of the forests in the coast region, and it is impossible, therefore, 

 to make recommendations regarding them. I was accompanied for part of 

 the time by Mr. E. Battiscombe, Conservator of Forests, and for the remainder 

 of the time by Mr. H. M. Gardner, Acting Senior Assistant Conservator of 

 Forests; to these officers, as well as to other persons from whom I received 

 assistance, I am much indebted. 



1. FOREST AREAS. 



1. The forest area of Kenya Colony has not yet been accurately com- 

 puted, but the following figures, taken from the Forest Report for 1920-21, 

 may be regarded as approximate : 



Square miles. 



Total area of Colony ... 245,060 



Area of agricultural land... ... ... ... ... 47,170 



Area of forest : 



Merchantable (including bamboos), 3,600; unprofit- 

 able or inaccessible, 1,500 ... ... ... ... 5,100 



Percentage of total land area covered by forest, 2'OS per cent. 

 Ratio of merchantable forest to agricultural land, 7'63 per cent. 



Private forests occupy 100 square miles, and State forests 5,000 square 

 miles, of which 2,200 square miles or 44 per cent, are timber forests, and 2,800 



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