Evaluating payment potential for environmental services and watershed conservation of Thika Dam, Murang’a County, Kenya
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Date
2018-05
Authors
Kimenju, Kagombe Joram
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Payment for Environmental Services is a concept that is increasingly being adopted
as anincentive-basedapproach in natural resource management. It links the suppliers
and consumers of environmental goods and services in a way that both parties can
contribute to improved delivery. The main environmental goods and services traded
are carbon, biodiversity, aesthetics and water. The predominant attitude towards
watershed management in many parts of the world is that water will always flow
from the catchment for free and there is therefore no urgency or incentive to institute
sustainable use of land and water resources. As a result, farmers lack inadequate
knowledge, incentives and recognition of their role in provision of water to the
rivers. Nairobi City has been experiencing serious water shortages in the past years
resulting in water rationing. Thikadam supplies 80% of water to Nairobi city but few
of the users of water are able to link availability of clean water in their pipes to
conservation of water catchments areas. The objective of the study was to find out
how land owners and users of water from Thika dam can participate in watershed
protection scheme through Payment for Environmental Services. Specifically, the
study identified land use changes in the catchment area for the last 30 years and its
effects on water quality and quantity;factors that could influence willingness of
water users to pay for the environment services; environmental services the farmers
are willing to adopt; economic incentives the buyers were willing to give to farmers
in return for their conservation efforts and policies and institutional framework that
are necessary for PES. Primary and secondary data were collected based on baseline
survey and qualitative research approaches, interview schedules, questionnaires,
focus group discussions and analysis of satellite imagery followed by ground
truthing. Both parametric and non-parametric methods of data analysis were used.
Results showed that land use practiceshave changed over time with tea coverage
increasing by 11% at the expense of woodlots. Chemicals used in water treatment
hasincreased with increasing rainfall. Farmers are also willing to accept improved
farming practices in return to incentives though their expected incentives were far
above what the users are willing to give. Incentives in kind were most preferred
(50%) followed by community projects (33%) and cash incentive (17%). Consumers
preferred giving community projects (48%), support in kind (38%) and cash
incentives (15%). There was a significant relationship between consumers source of
water and willingness to pay. Consumers who are connected with water from the
Ndaka-ini catchment area werewilling to give more. However, there was no
framework in which consumers willing to pay could use to provide incentives to the
providers of environment services. Further results showed a gap in institutional
framework for PES and lack of supporting legal institutions. The findings of this
study can lead to better management and conservation of catchments areas leading
to improved water quantity and quality of Thika dam. The findings of the study can
be used by the government to develop a payment of environment service model for
Thika dam and other water catchments areas in the country.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy in environmental science in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University. May, 2018