Smart forestry, the strategic use of digital tools, Earth Observation (EO) systems, drones, mobile GIS applications, and integrated data platforms and is becoming increasingly important for effective forest governance in Kenya. Forest ecosystems across the country face persistent pressures from illegal logging, charcoal production, encroachment, and climate-driven disturbances, creating a need for faster, more transparent, and data-driven management. In response, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and partners have adopted a suite of digital innovations including satellite-based forest-cover monitoring, drone-supported reconnaissance, mobile data-collection tools, and a national Forest Information System (FIS) that integrates licensing, real-time inventory, and automated alerts. These digital systems have already yielded measurable gains, including a documented reduction in illegal logging cases between 2020 and 2024 and greater participation of Community Forest Associations (CFAs) through mobile reporting of forest health, fire outbreaks, and encroachment. Pilot deployments in Kericho and Baringo show that drones enhance coverage of inaccessible sites and reduce operational costs by up to 35 percent, while emerging digital marketplaces and blockchain-style traceability systems are improving value chains for legal timber and non-timber forest products. Despite this progress, structural barriers—such as weak rural Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure, high device and data costs, and low digital literacy—continue to limit widespread adoption. The paper recommends targeted investments in digital infrastructure, public–private partnerships, capacity-building programs, and policy support to scale up smart forestry nationwide. Integrating digital tools into routine operations offers a transformative pathway toward sustainable forest management, enhanced accountability, a stronger forest-based economy, and progress on Kenya’s climate, restoration, and biodiversity commitments.
| Published in | American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 13, Issue 6) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11 |
| Page(s) | 258-274 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Smart Forestry, Digital Innovation, Forest Monitoring, GIS and Drones, Kenya Forest Management
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APA Style
Kinyili, B. M. (2025). Smart Forestry, Digital Tools, Technologies, and Innovations for Sustainable Forest Management in Kenya. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 13(6), 258-274. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11
ACS Style
Kinyili, B. M. Smart Forestry, Digital Tools, Technologies, and Innovations for Sustainable Forest Management in Kenya. Am. J. Agric. For. 2025, 13(6), 258-274. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11,
author = {Benjamin Mutuku Kinyili},
title = {Smart Forestry, Digital Tools, Technologies, and Innovations for Sustainable Forest Management in Kenya},
journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {258-274},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20251306.11},
abstract = {Smart forestry, the strategic use of digital tools, Earth Observation (EO) systems, drones, mobile GIS applications, and integrated data platforms and is becoming increasingly important for effective forest governance in Kenya. Forest ecosystems across the country face persistent pressures from illegal logging, charcoal production, encroachment, and climate-driven disturbances, creating a need for faster, more transparent, and data-driven management. In response, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and partners have adopted a suite of digital innovations including satellite-based forest-cover monitoring, drone-supported reconnaissance, mobile data-collection tools, and a national Forest Information System (FIS) that integrates licensing, real-time inventory, and automated alerts. These digital systems have already yielded measurable gains, including a documented reduction in illegal logging cases between 2020 and 2024 and greater participation of Community Forest Associations (CFAs) through mobile reporting of forest health, fire outbreaks, and encroachment. Pilot deployments in Kericho and Baringo show that drones enhance coverage of inaccessible sites and reduce operational costs by up to 35 percent, while emerging digital marketplaces and blockchain-style traceability systems are improving value chains for legal timber and non-timber forest products. Despite this progress, structural barriers—such as weak rural Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure, high device and data costs, and low digital literacy—continue to limit widespread adoption. The paper recommends targeted investments in digital infrastructure, public–private partnerships, capacity-building programs, and policy support to scale up smart forestry nationwide. Integrating digital tools into routine operations offers a transformative pathway toward sustainable forest management, enhanced accountability, a stronger forest-based economy, and progress on Kenya’s climate, restoration, and biodiversity commitments.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Smart Forestry, Digital Tools, Technologies, and Innovations for Sustainable Forest Management in Kenya AU - Benjamin Mutuku Kinyili Y1 - 2025/12/17 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11 DO - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11 T2 - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry JF - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry JO - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry SP - 258 EP - 274 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-8591 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.11 AB - Smart forestry, the strategic use of digital tools, Earth Observation (EO) systems, drones, mobile GIS applications, and integrated data platforms and is becoming increasingly important for effective forest governance in Kenya. Forest ecosystems across the country face persistent pressures from illegal logging, charcoal production, encroachment, and climate-driven disturbances, creating a need for faster, more transparent, and data-driven management. In response, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and partners have adopted a suite of digital innovations including satellite-based forest-cover monitoring, drone-supported reconnaissance, mobile data-collection tools, and a national Forest Information System (FIS) that integrates licensing, real-time inventory, and automated alerts. These digital systems have already yielded measurable gains, including a documented reduction in illegal logging cases between 2020 and 2024 and greater participation of Community Forest Associations (CFAs) through mobile reporting of forest health, fire outbreaks, and encroachment. Pilot deployments in Kericho and Baringo show that drones enhance coverage of inaccessible sites and reduce operational costs by up to 35 percent, while emerging digital marketplaces and blockchain-style traceability systems are improving value chains for legal timber and non-timber forest products. Despite this progress, structural barriers—such as weak rural Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure, high device and data costs, and low digital literacy—continue to limit widespread adoption. The paper recommends targeted investments in digital infrastructure, public–private partnerships, capacity-building programs, and policy support to scale up smart forestry nationwide. Integrating digital tools into routine operations offers a transformative pathway toward sustainable forest management, enhanced accountability, a stronger forest-based economy, and progress on Kenya’s climate, restoration, and biodiversity commitments. VL - 13 IS - 6 ER -
Kenya Forest Service, Nairobi, Kenya
