Abstract
Mangrove forests provide harvestable wood and non-wood resources to human society around the world. The current study evaluated value chain of mangrove wood products from Lamu County, Kenya, and how these impacts on resources’ sustainability. To assess structure and yield data of Lamu mangroves, stratified random sampling design was used in the different blocks. Quadrats measuring 20 m × 20 m were established along transects, running perpendicular to the shoreline covering different vegetation types. Vegetation attributes measured included species, stem diameter (cm), height (m), and pole quality, from which the stand density (stems ha-1), stand table, basal area (m2 ha-1), and merchantable stems were derived. Rhizophora mucronata and Ceriops tagal had the highest stocking densities across the 5 management blocks. The density of merchantable poles for the dominant mangrove species’, Rhizophora mucronata and Ceriops tagal was estimated at 1,361stems ha-1. Results from the market survey show that exploitation of mangrove wood products in Kenya involve several actors, including the national regulator, licensees, cutters, transporters, stockists, and finally the consumers. Based on the differences between allowable and harvest data, Lamu mangroves can be said to be under-exploited. For the 1992-2018 period, an average of 223.5 scores ha-1yr-1 of mangrove poles were harvested from Lamu County. During the same period, the harvest data indicate that on averages, 6.2 scores ha-1 yr-1 of mangrove poles were removed. However, based on stand level data generated as part of this study, mangroves in Lamu County are over-exploited and stocked with non-merchantable poles. There are differentiated net income among various actors in mangrove trade in Kenya. Mangrove cutters are among the ‘least beneficiaries’ in mangrove trade value chain earning a monthly net income of USD118.6±17.9. The greatest winners in mangrove trade are the Kenya Forest Service, licensees, transporters, and mangrove dealers (or stockists) in urban centers. The findings of this study are critical in development of the harvesting plan for Lamu County mangroves. The results provide insights toward streamlining mangrove trade for community development, revenue generation and environmental sustainability.