This publication offers a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the status, trends and governance of forests across Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. Drawing on regional data, national forest inventories, geospatial analyses and policy reviews, the report examines how forests continue to underpin livelihoods, economies, biodiversity and climate resilience - while facing mounting pressure from deforestation, degradation and competing land uses.
The report explores key dimensions shaping the region’s forest landscapes, including forest typologies and ownership regimes; timber production and markets; REDD+ progress and challenges; legal and policy frameworks; community forestry; sustainable woodfuel management; wild meat trade; women’s rights and participation; and forest monitoring, data management and sharing. Across these themes, the report highlights both persistent gaps and emerging opportunities for more inclusive, effective and sustainable forest governance.
Beyond documenting trends, this report serves as a practical resource for decision makers. It identifies technical and policy options to strengthen sustainable forest management, improve institutional coordination, enhance community participation, and align national actions with regional and global commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. Produced as a flagship output of the EU-funded East and Southern Africa Forest Observatory (OFESA) project, this volume reflects the collective expertise of researchers, government agencies, civil society organisations and regional institutions. It is intended to inform policy dialogue, guide investment and support collaborative action to safeguard forests as critical ecological, social and economic assets for present and future generations in East and Southern Africa.
Table of contents
- The forestry sector in East and Southern Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda
- REDD+ in East and Southern Africa: Progress and challenges
- Forest policies and legal frameworks in East and Southern Africa
- Has community forestry lost its way? An examination of legal paradigms and their delivery in five East and Southern African states
- Sustainable woodfuel management in East and Southern Africa
- Wild meat in East and Southern Africa: Trade, livelihoods and food security
- Women’s rights and participation in the forestry sector of East and Southern Africa
- Monitoring of East and Southern Africa forests: Data management and sharing
Conclusion, References and Annexes
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RIS (.ris)
TI - State of the Forests 2025: The Forests of the East and Southern Africa
AU - Cerutti, P.O.
AU - Tsanga, R.
AU - Ombogoh, D.B.
AU - Amugune, I.
AU - Nasi, R.
AB - This publication offers a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the status, trends and governance of forests across Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. Drawing on regional data, national forest inventories, geospatial analyses and policy reviews, the report examines how forests continue to underpin livelihoods, economies, biodiversity and climate resilience - while facing mounting pressure from deforestation, degradation and competing land uses.The report explores key dimensions shaping the region’s forest landscapes, including forest typologies and ownership regimes; timber production and markets; REDD+ progress and challenges; legal and policy frameworks; community forestry; sustainable woodfuel management; wild meat trade; women’s rights and participation; and forest monitoring, data management and sharing. Across these themes, the report highlights both persistent gaps and emerging opportunities for more inclusive, effective and sustainable forest governance.Beyond documenting trends, this report serves as a practical resource for decision makers. It identifies technical and policy options to strengthen sustainable forest management, improve institutional coordination, enhance community participation, and align national actions with regional and global commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. Produced as a flagship output of the EU-funded East and Southern Africa Forest Observatory (OFESA) project, this volume reflects the collective expertise of researchers, government agencies, civil society organisations and regional institutions. It is intended to inform policy dialogue, guide investment and support collaborative action to safeguard forests as critical ecological, social and economic assets for present and future generations in East and Southern Africa.
Table of contents
Introduction
The forestry sector in East and Southern Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda
REDD+ in East and Southern Africa: Progress and challenges
Forest policies and legal frameworks in East and Southern Africa
Has community forestry lost its way? An examination of legal paradigms and their delivery in five East and Southern African states
Sustainable woodfuel management in East and Southern Africa
Wild meat in East and Southern Africa: Trade, livelihoods and food security
Women’s rights and participation in the forestry sector of East and Southern Africa
Monitoring of East and Southern Africa forests: Data management and sharing
Conclusion, References and Annexes
PY - 2026
PB - CIFOR-ICRAF
PP - Bogor, Indonesia and Nairobi, Kenya
UR - https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/46390/
DO - https://doi.org/10.5716/cifor-icraf/BK.46390
KW - community forestry, deforestation, degradation, forest conservation, forest management, fuelwood, market, redd-plus, timber, women's participation
ER -Endnote (.ciw)
%T State of the Forests 2025: The Forests of the East and Southern Africa
%A Cerutti, P.O.
%A Tsanga, R.
%A Ombogoh, D.B.
%A Amugune, I.
%A Nasi, R.
%D 2026
%I CIFOR-ICRAF
%C Bogor, Indonesia and Nairobi, Kenya
%U https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/46390/
%R https://doi.org/10.5716/cifor-icraf/BK.46390
%X This publication offers a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the status, trends and governance of forests across Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. Drawing on regional data, national forest inventories, geospatial analyses and policy reviews, the report examines how forests continue to underpin livelihoods, economies, biodiversity and climate resilience - while facing mounting pressure from deforestation, degradation and competing land uses.The report explores key dimensions shaping the region’s forest landscapes, including forest typologies and ownership regimes; timber production and markets; REDD+ progress and challenges; legal and policy frameworks; community forestry; sustainable woodfuel management; wild meat trade; women’s rights and participation; and forest monitoring, data management and sharing. Across these themes, the report highlights both persistent gaps and emerging opportunities for more inclusive, effective and sustainable forest governance.Beyond documenting trends, this report serves as a practical resource for decision makers. It identifies technical and policy options to strengthen sustainable forest management, improve institutional coordination, enhance community participation, and align national actions with regional and global commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. Produced as a flagship output of the EU-funded East and Southern Africa Forest Observatory (OFESA) project, this volume reflects the collective expertise of researchers, government agencies, civil society organisations and regional institutions. It is intended to inform policy dialogue, guide investment and support collaborative action to safeguard forests as critical ecological, social and economic assets for present and future generations in East and Southern Africa.
Table of contents
Introduction
The forestry sector in East and Southern Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda
REDD+ in East and Southern Africa: Progress and challenges
Forest policies and legal frameworks in East and Southern Africa
Has community forestry lost its way? An examination of legal paradigms and their delivery in five East and Southern African states
Sustainable woodfuel management in East and Southern Africa
Wild meat in East and Southern Africa: Trade, livelihoods and food security
Women’s rights and participation in the forestry sector of East and Southern Africa
Monitoring of East and Southern Africa forests: Data management and sharing
Conclusion, References and Annexes
%K community forestry
%K deforestation
%K degradation
%K forest conservation
%K forest management
%K fuelwood
%K market
%K redd-plus
%K timber
%K women's participation
Publisher
CIFOR-ICRAF: Bogor, Indonesia and Nairobi, Kenya
Année de publication
2026
ISBN
978-9966-108-98-2
Auteurs
Cerutti, P.O.; Tsanga, R.; Ombogoh, D.B.; Amugune, I.; Nasi, R.
Langue
English
Mots clés
community forestry, deforestation, degradation, forest conservation, forest management, fuelwood, market, redd-plus, timber, women's participation
