Sonneratia forest
Forest Management Agreement
The Forest Management Agreement is a legal tool between the Community Forest Association (CFA) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) for the implementation of the Participatory Forest Management Plan, which only becomes effective after the signing of a the Agreement. This agreement officially secures community ownership of carbon credits and thus, is a prerequisite for a successful carbon project.
In short, the Forest Management Agreement is the vehicle to operationalize the Participatory Forest Management Plan.
- The process is anchored in national laws, Forest Act (2005)
- Community understanding of the values of mangroves goods and services
- Willingness of the community to participate in joint mangrove management with the government
- Registration of a community forest association (CFA)
- Approved participatory forest management plan for the forest ecosystem
- Consensus building is needed before the signing of forest management agreement between the government and the local community
- The agreement affirms community ownership of a designated forest area thus enhancing their participation
- Mangrove management needs to be pursued in an integrated manner; rather than over-emphasizing carbon benefits in the expense of other goods and services derived from the system
- Forest management agreement should be in simple language that is fully understandable by the community