Kenya's forest sector at a glance
Indicative visualisations based on KEFRI's research programmes. All figures reflect published estimates and should be verified against primary sources before use in official reporting.
Forest indicators by ecological zone
| County | Ecological Zone | Est. Forest Cover | Key Species | KEFRI Centre | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyeri | Central Highlands | ~22% | Pinus patula, Cypress, Cedar | Muguga | Increasing |
| Meru | Central Highlands / Dryland | ~18% | Pinus, Eucalyptus, Melia | Muguga / Kitui | Stable |
| Kitui | Drylands / Semi-Arid | ~4% | Melia volkensii, Acacia spp. | Kitui | Increasing |
| Kilifi | Coastal | ~8% | Mangroves, Casuarina, indigenous | Gede | Stable |
| Nakuru | Rift Valley | ~11% | Eucalyptus, Grevillea, Cypress | Londiani | Increasing |
| Kakamega | Lake Victoria Basin | ~14% | Grevillea, Markhamia, indigenous | Maseno | Stable |
| Turkana | Arid | <1% | Balanites, Acacia, Commiphora | Kitui (remote) | Declining |
| NDC Category | KEFRI Data Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Forest carbon stocks | Plantation biomass data | Active |
| Blue carbon (mangrove) | Coastal carbon surveys | Active |
| Forest cover change | Remote sensing analysis | In progress |
| Restoration commitments | Species & site suitability data | Active |
| Biodiversity co-benefits | Natural history collections | Partial |
KEFRI's structured data assets
KEFRI Species Database — Ecological Requirements & Site Suitability
Comprehensive species-level data covering 380+ tree species — rainfall range, altitude, soil requirements, climate zone suitability, growth rate, and maximum height. The underlying dataset powering KEFRIApp. Updated annually.
Wood Properties Database — Physical & Mechanical Properties
Density, modulus of rupture, compression strength, hardness, shrinkage, and durability classification for 180+ commercially relevant species. Sourced from KEFRI's National Forest Products Research Centre laboratory testing programme.
KEFRI Natural History Collections — Herbarium & Invertebrate Records
180,000+ specimen records from KEFRI's natural history collection — herbarium specimens, insect collections, and forest invertebrate records from Kenya and Eastern Africa. Published through GBIF with DOI reference. Continuously updated as digitisation proceeds.
Highland Forest Carbon Sequestration Dataset — 15-Year Longitudinal Plot Data
Permanent sample plot data from 42 highland plots across the Central Highlands — annual stem measurements, biomass calculations, and carbon accumulation curves for six species across three site quality classes. Underlies the 2024 FBCCEM publication on carbon sequestration rates.
Kenya County Forest Profiles Dataset — 47 Counties
Structured dataset for all 47 Kenyan counties — dominant ecosystems, recommended species lists, estimated forest cover, key threats, and KEFRI regional centre contact for each county. Machine-readable version of the county forest profiles.
Melia volkensii Provenance Trial Data — 18 Provenances, Long-term Growth Records
Raw provenance trial data from 18 Melia volkensii collection sites across Kenya's semi-arid zone — individual tree measurements, growth rates, timber form scores, and drought survival data from the 2022 provenance study. Available for academic research with data sharing agreement.
KEFRI Forest Site Classification System — Kenya's 5 Ecological Zones
Geospatial site suitability classification dataset developed from KEFRI's long-term field research — integrating soil, rainfall, altitude, and temperature variables into species-site matching zones. The spatial data layer underlying the site-specific recommendations in KEFRIApp.
Kenya Coastal Mangrove Monitoring Dataset — 5-Year Survey 2018–2023
Field monitoring data from three mangrove restoration sites in Kilifi and Kwale counties — species composition, canopy cover, stem density, sediment accretion, and macroinvertebrate community data from the 2023 KEFRI Gede study. Available for coastal restoration and blue carbon research.
KEFRI Certified Seed Source Directory — Species & Geographic Locations
Structured dataset of certified seed sources for 120+ species — organised by species, county, and certification standard. Includes KEFRI's own certified seed stands and approved commercial suppliers. Updated biannually. The data layer underlying the Seed Source Directory tool.
Can't find what you need? KEFRI can prepare custom data extracts for specific research needs.
Request custom datasetBuild with KEFRI's forestry data
KEFRI's Data API provides programmatic access to species data, county profiles, wood properties, and biodiversity records. Designed for developers, GIS practitioners, and research institutions building applications that require Kenya forestry data.
# Query species suitable for dryland agroforestry GET https://api.kefri.org/v1/species # Query parameters ?ecosystem="drylands" &uses="agroforestry,timber" &county="Kitui" &growth_rate="fast,moderate" &format="json" # Example response (truncated) { "status": "success", "count": 14, "species": [ { "id": "melia-volkensii", "common_name": "Melia", "scientific_name": "Melia volkensii", "suitability_score": 0.95, "rainfall_min": 400, "rainfall_max": 700, "growth_rate": "fast", "guide_url": "https://kefri.org/guides/melia-volkensii" }, ... ] }
How KEFRI data is licenced and shared
Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Species profiles, county forest data, wood properties database, seed source directory, and biodiversity collections are published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Free to use, share, and adapt — with attribution to KEFRI. No registration required.
Licensed Data
Geospatial datasets, long-term field plot data, and GIS layers are available under institutional licences for academic institutions, government bodies, and commercial organisations. Licensing terms vary by dataset. Contact the KEFRI data office for licence enquiries.
By-Request Research Data
Raw research data from KEFRI's field trials, provenance studies, and monitoring programmes is available to qualified researchers through a data sharing agreement. Requests are reviewed by the relevant programme lead. Expected response time: 10 working days.
All data presented in this portal represents KEFRI's published research estimates and should be verified against primary sources before use in official government reporting, commercial decisions, or academic publication. Forest cover figures in particular vary across sources and measurement methodologies. KEFRI recommends users consult the relevant primary publications — accessible through the Knowledge Hub — for full methodological detail and uncertainty ranges. Contact the KEFRI data team for guidance on appropriate use for your specific purpose.