BSc Integrated Forest Resources Management Program Offered at Egerton University

Land cover under forestry in Kenya has continued to diminish and currently stands at about 2% of the total land area, which falls far below the internationally accepted minimum of 10%. This has compromised ecological integrity and denied millions of people access to trees and tree products. Rampant deforestation and tree cutting on individual farms continue unabated. This puts further stress on the already fragile forest ecosystem. Despite the various break-throughs in conventional agriculture and forestry, malnutrition, poverty and deterioration of the natural environment are rampant.

Humankind has a moral responsibility to reverse these negative trends.It is therefore, imperative to have qualified personnel to take up these challenges.

The Bachelor of Science programme in Integrated Forest Resource Management is interdisciplinary in approach and is tailored to provide skills and knowledge relevant in problem analysis, development of research modules, project implementation and pedagogic assignments on aspects of macro-scale and micro-scale forest resources management. The basic components of the programme embrace forest biodiversity, including invasive species, human dimensions in relation to capacity building options, conservation of genetic resources of wild relatives, and management of water catchment areas.

Integrated Forest Resources Management is one of the key pathways of mitigating poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and environmental deterioration. Integration of trees on the landscape, and intensive forest resources management will diversify and sustain production for increased socio-economic and environmental benefits at all levels. Integrated Forest Resources Management can enhance supply of wood and non-wood forest products, soil fertility, soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and reduction of greenhouse gases. The integrated approach will ease the pressure on the already overutilised national forests by producing competent graduates to address these challenges. Such persons would find ready market in diverse professions such as forestry, agriculture, environment and natural resources and related areas. 

The aim of this BSc in Integrated Forest Resources Management programme is to train personnel with skills and professional knowledge to carry out integrated forestry research, provide advisory services and disseminate appropriate innovations for purposes of sustainable forest resources management.

On completion of the programme, they should be able to;

• Provide technical and professional services in forest resources management.
• Carry out appropriate research to generate interventions for implementation in areas of forestresources management
• Analyse and evaluate critical issues in forest resources management, biodiversity
• Conservation and related policy issues.
• Take up forestry as a business.

Candidates admitted to the degree programme of Bachelor of Science in Integrated Forest Resources Management must satisfy the minimum University entrance requirements. In addition, the candidates MUST have attained at least the minimum grades shown in the following subjects:

• Biology B- or Biological Sciences B ,
• Geography B- ,
• Chemistry C+ or Physical Science B- and
• MathematicsC +.

Diploma holders who have passed with credit and above in the following fields: Range Science, Environmental Science, Forestry, Wildlife Management and other relevant diplomas from institutions recognized by Egerton University Senate will be admitted and awarded credit transfer as stipulated in the University Statutes.

Mininum Entry Requirements for Bachelor's Degree at Egerton University
The entry requirements set out below are only minimum, and they in no way entitle an applicant to a place in the University. Applicants must:

• Have the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with an average grade C+ (C plus)passed at one sitting from at least seven subjects drawn from subject groupings as specified by the Kenya National Examinations Council or its equivalent.

OR

• Have one of the following combinations of passes in the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education examination:
• Two (2) Principal passes obtained at the same sitting.

OR

• Egerton University Statutes 2008 43
• Two (2) Principal passes obtained at different sittings provided the passes are of Grade C or higher.

OR

• Hold a Diploma of Egerton University with a 'Credit' pass or higher or an equivalent
• Qualification from a recognized institution in the relevant field of specialization acceptable to Senate. Those with a 'Pass' Diploma will be considered if they have at least two years relevant experience after graduation.

AND
Meet additional entry requirements as may be specified by the respective Department, Faculty, School or Institute.

To be admitted for a PRE-SERVICE DEGREE PROGRAM, a prospective candidate must have all the requirements set up by the joint Admission Board (JAB), with a prospective IN-SERVICE student must have completed a diplomaprogram in the relevant field and graduated with at least a CREDIT.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Forest Resources Management at Egerton University shall take a full time student four academic years or less for students who get credit transfer and a maximum of 8years for part-time students. During this period students will register for a minimum of eighteen credit factors per semester.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Forest Resources Management, a student should have a minimum of 159 Credit Factors which include the University common core courses approved by the Egerton University Senate.

Some of the subject areas to be taught include:

• Ecology
• Climate
• Management courses
• Applied courses
• Planning
• Research, Seminars, and Student Projects, and
• Policy, Law and Administration.

Egerton University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s.

Egerton University has three (3) Campuses and one Campus College.

The main Campus is based at ... read more