Publications

Commiphora holtziana gum resins when solvent extracted followed by a combination of chromatographic separation techniques on hexane extract of the Wajir sample, led to the isolation and characterization of a new compound, 11–hydroxy-?-muurolene 1. In addition, two known compounds, (1E)-2-methoxy-8,12-
epoxygermacra-1(10),7,11-triene-6-one 2 and (1E)-3-methoxy-8,12-epoxygermacra-1,7(8),10(15),11-tetraen-6-

Forests in Africa and Asia host various wildlife populations that cause varying levels of damages to forest resources. The economic damage is more severe in forest plantations meant for timber production that require huge financial outlays. Like many countries most forest ecosystems in Kenya contain many forest plantations
and wild game conservation units. Despite the heavy losses to plantation crops by wild game, the extent of theloss as well as existence of a balance between wild game conservation and plantation forestry remains unknown.

Forests in Africa and Asia host various wildlife populations that cause varying levels of damages to forest resources. The economic damage is more severe in forest plantations meant for timber production that require huge financial outlays. Like many countries most forest ecosystems in Kenya contain many forest plantations
and wild game conservation units. Despite the heavy losses to plantation crops by wild game, the extent of theloss as well as existence of a balance between wild game conservation and plantation forestry remains unknown.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) fruit pulp was analyzed for its chemical and nutritional content and the results compared with those of the same species from other parts of the world. The analysis included those for: Moisture and ash contents, crude fibre, energy values, non-reducing sugars, crude protein and vitamin C. Total carbohydrates were obtained by calculation. Results show no major variation in moisture content, amount of ash except in the Kenyan sample (A), which had a high value of 4.03 ± 0.52)%.

Kenya depends on fuel-wood for cooking and heating in most households. Over 80% of both rural and urban households in the country use fuel wood for cooking. These Prosopis plant species provide excellent fuel wood. These plants were introduced in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya in the early 1970s as a source of woodfuel and also for the rehabilitation of degraded lands. Prosopis is a prolific seeder and has invasiveness behaviour that results in a number of social, ecological and economic concerns to the local communities, and challenges to development partners.

Particleboard and solid wood stakes were treated with either an isocyanate or phenol formaldehyde resin and exposed in soil beds comprising three different soil types and two moisture contents. The treatments resulted in a marked improvement in the dimensional stability of particleboard but had no effect on solid wood. Higher moisture uptakes in stakes exposed in sandy soils indicated that the technique used for measuring soil water holding capacity needs to be reviewed.

Melia volkensii commonly known as Mukau is an well known indigenous tree species in the plant family Meliaceae growing naturally in the semiarid zones of Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya.Melia volkensii mechanical properties are compared with mahogany (Khaya species), teak (Tectona grandis) and mvule (Milicia excelsa)

This study was carried out using 15-year old Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell trees from three seedlots in a progeny trial in Norbethong, Victoria in Australia. Colour, stain and light table methods were used to demarcate the boundary between the sapwood and heartwood on the discs cross sectional surface. The main objective of this study was to examine the variation within and between tree in heartwood and sapwood in plantation grown Eucalyptus regnans material and also to compare the three techniques used in demarcating the boundary between sapwood and heartwood.

Wood energy provides 70% of Kenya’s national energy needs and it is expected to continue as the country’s main source of energy for the foreseeable future. Wood is the standard cooking fuel for the majority of Kenyan households and also an important energy source for small-scale rural industries. Past studies on supply demand balance of woodfuel have shown a deficit. To address this deficit there is need for a comprehensive wood energy plan with implementation strategies which ensure its sustainable production.

The aim of this study was to carry out nutrient content of Sclerocarya birrea (Amarula) fruits as one of the
Kenyan drylands indigenous fruits with a high potential. Mature fruit samples were collected from the field in
Mbeere in Eastern part of Kenya and then taken to the Forest Products laboratories for analysis. Edible portions
were analysed for the nutritional composition. The analysis carried out included energy, moisture, ascorbic acid,
proximate and minerals (i.e. Ca, Mg, K, Cu, P, Fe and Zn). Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS)

In Buyangu, the first people to settle there were Abaragoli and Abanyole of Vihiga
District and this was in the 19th Century. The main settlement of the Abaluya in and
around Kakamega forest appears to have occurred in the late 19th and the early 20th
century. The area is densely settled and the demand for forest products is very evident.
The Kakamega forest area adjacent to Buyangu village is under KWS management
and communities are not allowed to access any forest products. Despite of this, the

Abstract
Kenya generates about 1.6 million tones of sugarcane bagasse which has enormous
potential for exploitation in modern commercial applications. Due to rising fossil
fuel prices, availability in large quantity and rapidly growing interest in bio-energy
as well as technological advances and environmental concerns , bagasse could be
utilized for the formulation of charcoal briquettes for household use to
supplement wood charcoal. In this study briquettes were formulated using

Several Prosopis species and provenances were introduced in Kenya, either as a single event or repeatedly. To date, naturally established Prosopis populations are described as pure species depending on site, despite the aforementioned introduction of several species within some sites.