The Legacy of Colonialism on Kenya’s Montane Forests

A new study led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology traces Kenya’s montane forest loss to colonial land policies and post-colonial resettlement. Using maps, archives, and satellite data, researchers trace deforestation’s deep historical roots in governance and land use

Despite being officially protected under modern conservation frameworks, the tropical forests of eastern Africa are still being cleared at high rates. This forest loss is often blamed on impoverished, small-scale farming communities, while ignoring the impacts of colonial policies and their lasting legacies on landscapes and society. Now, a recent study examines the origins of contemporary trends in deforestation, and the historical, political, and socioeconomic factors that have driven them.

Using historical maps, archival documents, satellite images and settlement datasets, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology mapped the changes in montane forest cover in Kenya from 1910 to 2024. By integrating these methods, they were able to construct a comprehensive picture of how both colonial land allocations and post-colonial resettlement policies contributed to sustained forest decline.

Analysis of these diverse data sources showed that approximately 46% of montane forest cover was lost during the colonial period, largely due to allocations for large-scale plantations and agricultural projects.

Forest loss persisted in the post-colonial era, though the primary drivers shifted. Government-led resettlement, which was based on colonial structures and constraints, relocated local households into montane forest zones, resulting in continued deforestation and degradation.  The colonial legacy of centralized forest management, where local communities had little or no say in governance, was also carried into the post-independence era.

“Our findings demonstrate that deforestation in montane forests is not simply a modern phenomenon,” says Dr. Peter Gitau, lead author of the study, “but is deeply rooted in historical land policies and governance structures that continue to influence present-day forest management.”

“By tracing forest loss back to the colonial period, our work shows that current conservation struggles cannot be fully understood without situating them in their long-term historical and political context,” adds Dr. Rahab Kinyanjui, coauthor of the study. “In addition, we demonstrate how historical datasets can be incorporated in a multidisciplinary manner to ensure wholistic understanding of forest dynamics.”

The deforestation of tropical and montane forests is expected to increase due to population growth, rising demand for arable land, and the added stress of climate change on agricultural production. Future research should adopt multidisciplinary methodologies including palaeoecology, archaeology, and environmental history to improve our understanding of forest dynamics.

“Only by empowering local people, ensuring fair benefit-sharing, and integrating traditional ecological practices can conservation efforts achieve lasting results,” concludes Prof. Patrick Roberts, coauthor of the study and Director of the Department of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanisation at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology.