Growing Community

How Tree Growers’ Associations are shaping reforestation efforts across East Africa

For over a  decade, tree growers’ associations have provided critical support for national reforestation efforts across the three-country region of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Increasingly, they are also laying the foundation for a strong forest-based bioeconomy in the region. 

East Africa has long faced the consequences of deforestation. From 1990 to 2018, Kenya lost a forested area nearly 1/3 the size of Switzerland. (GNI Plus). In Uganda, forested land dropped from 24% to 12.4% in just 25 years. Tanzania is losing trees so quickly that, at the current rate, all the country’s forests will be gone within 50-80 years (Global Landscapes Forum).  

To reverse this trend, governments are turning to residents. By offering inexpensive land leases for agroforestry, they have enabled the rapid reforestation of  thousands of hectares of degraded land–at minimal cost. At the same time, residents have been able to grow “agroforestry bank accounts,” planting commercially-valuable trees that they can harvest, sell, and replant, once mature.

Since many tree farmers are unfamiliar with agroforestry, tree growers’ associations have stepped in–offering seedlings, technical support, advocacy, market connections, and even shared sawmills. 

These associations have become a vital link in the region’s emerging forest economy. Going forward, they are well-positioned to help tree farmers connect to more lucrative value chains, such as those for biobased construction. 

“Trees are livelihoods”:  Farm Forestry Smallholder Producers Association of Kenya (FF-SPAK)

Edwin Kamau, FF-SPAK Programme Coordinator and Benjamin Karanja, FF-SPAK Chairman, attend a Swedish embassy event in Nairobi, Kenya

Launched in 2013, FF-SPAK was created to convene Kenya’s many country-level tree growers’ associations under one national umbrella. 

“There was always this interest in forming a national umbrella, to bring together all these associations,” said Edwin Kamau, FF-SPAK CEO. “Initially, most tree planting efforts in Kenya were about environmental protection and forest conservation” says Kamau.  “But then, farm forestry began to emerge, with its economic potential. So there was this critical mass of farmers beginning to understand that they could plant trees on their farms for both conservation and livelihoods.”

Working alongside the county-level tree growers’ associations, FF-SPAK advocates for the  interests of the many smallholder tree farmers in Kenya. In addition, it supplements the work of government extension offices, providing technical assistance; offering quality seed from its three nurseries; and connecting growers to markets. 

But the challenges remain. “Many farmers lack technical knowledge,” explains Kamau, citing a recent decline in government extension services.  In addition, quality seedlings can be hard to access. And because they are small, most tree farmers have limited bargaining power. “They are at the mercy of the other value chain players,” explains Kamau. 

Climate change is also making tree farming harder. And as FF-SPAK Chairman Benjamin Karanja notes, third-party certification is yet another hurdle. “One time, for example, we attracted an investor, a foundation,” he says. “But the first question they asked everyone was: ‘are you FSC certified?’ And we had to say, unfortunately, that we were not certified." However, he adds that FF-SPAK is currently working with both FSC and PEFC to identify ways to support its members in achieving forest certification.

Still, the sector’s potential is significant, given such trends as growing demand for timber or the new promise of carbon markets. 

“At FF-SPAK, we believe the future of forestry is in farm forestry,” adds Kamau. “ Kenya has this ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2030. But, government forests, they cannot expand. Agricultural land is the only place that we can add forests.” 

“It’s a huge opportunity,” says Kamau “ to get as many farmers as possible planting trees into the future.” 

“Now we’re focusing on what happens after trees mature”: Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA)

UTGA Programme Director Peter Mulondo discusses a pine plantation outside of Kampala, Uganda with Climate Smart Forest Economy Program Director Robyn van den Heuvel

Founded just 12 years ago, UTGA now counts about 700 members across Uganda (with the exception of the Northeast)--and is still growing. Over 75% of members grow trees on government-leased land, using renewable 25- and 49-year leases. Originally backed by the European Union and the government of Norway, UTGA was founded to lobby for private commercial tree growers and support farmers establish and manage forest plantations. It provides access to quality planting materials and promotes best practices in forestry (including weeding, pruning, and thinning) through training, knowledge sharing, and timely technical assistance.

Staff of Built by Nature, the Climate Smart Forest Economy Program, and the Uganda Tree Growers Association tour a eucalyptus forest outside of Kampala, Uganda.

Today, its focus is evolving. “As the trees grow,” says CEO Dennis Kavuma, “so does UTGA.” “Going forward,” he continued, “the focus is on the value chain–making sure growers can profit sufficiently and be able to replant.”

Programme Officer Peter Mulondo explains that collective harvesting and selling can be very beneficial for farmers. “We can grow trees individually,” he says, “but it’s best to harvest together.” 

By linking farmers directly to buyers, UTGA helps them earn more by skipping middlemen. One of its newest initiatives is a shared demonstration merchant timberyard. “Instead of selling logs, members can process their wood into graded, certified sawn timber–opening the door to premium markets,” says Mulondo. “And, if growers can directly access markets, together, they can earn more. As individuals, they don’t have the scale to influence price. But when they come together, they have the requisite volume and scale at a cluster level to influence the buyer.” 

UTGA also manages two natural forest sites to support its FSC group certification scheme. “You need 10% natural forest cover for certification,” says Mulondo. “In a group scheme, we can meet that requirement at the landscape level.” 

By working together, Kavuma and Mulondo believe they can support UTGA farmers to continue to improve their tree farms–increasing benefits to the environment and profits to local farmers. “We want to grow the reputation of Uganda as a place with lots and lots of high-quality timber,” says Mulondo. 

“You can’t go wrong investing in forests”:  Forest Urban Investors, Tanzania 

Unlike FF-SPAK and UTGA, Forest Urban Investors is just getting started. Formally established last year in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, it has 50 registered members and supports another 500 informally. Its target member is unique: urban dwellers investing in forests for both income generation and environmental impact. 

Thanks to support from the government of Tanzania, Forest Urban Investors (FUI)  was created to unite medium-sized forest investors. Co-founder Aristarik Maro estimates that medium-sized growers account for around 45% of Tanzania’s plantations. 

One of the organisation’s first goals was mapping these growers to highlight their role in Tanzania’s forestry sector.

But the organisation isn’t just focused on counting trees. “We need our voices to be heard,” says Maro, “especially on the challenges facing this sector. How can we work together to market our trees? Ensure access to government support and fair levies and taxes? Develop standardisation and certification? Access markets?” For urban investors, says Maro, being part of an organisation helps them learn what they need to know to protect their investment. 

Maro explains that in recent decades, Tanzania has seen a “Timber Rush.” “In the early 2000s, we had so many people flowing into the Southern Highlands to invest in forests,” says Maro. “But they underestimated start-up costs and time involved. Many thought they could harvest in a few years–not realising forests are a long-term investment. Others didn’t know how to prevent fire or theft, which led to major losses.” 

Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities for Tanzania’s forestry investors. There is a growing market for construction timber, particularly with some newer coastal developments being built entirely out of wood. Because of a national effort to electrify Tanzanian villages, there is also a huge market for electrical poles. A government ban on importing furniture has boosted the local wood market. Pulp and paper demand is also rising. 

East Africa’s climate makes forestry unusually attractive. “Compared to Western countries, our trees mature very fast,” explains Maro. “In some regions, our members are harvesting three-year-old eucalyptus for electric poles.”

Looking ahead, Maro wants to increase the quality and quantity of Tanzania’s farmed forests–increasing the number of people growing trees, and the number of plantations growing indigenous trees. “Tanzania should be green,” he says. 

“You can’t go wrong investing in forests,” says Maro.

Providing critical networks

Across East Africa, tree growers’ associations are ensuring that the region’s emerging forest economy includes the people who live there. 

They’re helping smallholders get started; linking them to larger markets; and shaping national conversations about land use, livelihoods, and sustainability. 

As Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania work toward ambitious reforestation and construction decarbonisation goals, these grassroots organisations will be key to turning thousands of small investments into a truly regenerative forest economy.