Current research on wood preservation in Kenya is mainly on the development of biological control of wood-destroying termite species, using mycoinsecticides. The major research institutions include the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Moi University and the International Centre for Insect Physiology (ICIPE). Training institutions include Forestry Training College, Forest Products Training Institute and Moi University. A number of publications, mostly an biological control of termites, are available and they range from workshop and conference proceedings to theses and journal publications. Wood-destroying termite species include several genera in Macrotermitidae and one drywood termite genus. Wood preservation facilities are available in Kenya, mainly for assorted timber products, sleepers and utility poles. The major preservatives used are CCAs, PCP and Creosote oil. There are still no set standards, specifications and requirements for wood preservatives and little, if any information exists on the marketing aspects of wood preservatives. The yet to be established Industrial Chemicals Act and the recently introduced Environmental Management and Coordination Bill (1999) may be able to handle regulatory, environmental, health and safety aspects of wood preservation in Kenya.
Keywords: KENYA; BIO-CONTROL; TERMITES; MYCOINSECTICIDES; KENYA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE; KARI; KENYA FORESTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE; KEFRI; MOI UNIVERSITY; INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR INSECT PHYSIOLOGY; ICIPE; FORESTRY TRAINING COLLEGE; FOREST PRODUCTS TRAINING INSTITUTE; MOI UNIVERSITY; MACROTERMITIDAE; SLEEPERS; UTILITY POLES; CCA; PCP; CREOSOTE; INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS ACT; ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION BILL; ENVIRONMENT; HEALTH AND SAFETY