A review of Kenya’s national policies relevant to climate change adaptation and mitigation: Insights from Mount Elgon

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

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Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze Kenya’s national policies related to climate change adaptation and mitigation, with specific focus on the contexts of the forest and agroforestry-dependent livelihoods and ecosystem services typical of the Mt. Elgon ecosystem. This analysis was built on a review of policy documents, secondary literature and insights from national and district level stakeholder workshops. The policy analysis begins with an overview of changes in forest and tree cover in Kenya, the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. It then reviews and discusses the implications of policy documents from key sectors on national climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. The study identifies conflicts between policies, offers appropriate recommendations for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into sectoral and crosscutting policies, and suggests means for improving their translation into tangible benefits for rural farming communities.