Establishment of Boundaries for Sustainable Conservation and Enhanced Livelihoods of Forest Dependent Communities Neighbouring Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve in Kilifi County, Kenya
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Date
2024-04
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Forest management in Kenya was initiated in the year 1902, marking the inception of organized efforts to sustainably oversee and regulate the country's forest resources. Before, forests were taken care of by specified area leaders, specifically local chiefs with the typical system of governance, but the introduction of state system of forest administration lowered community-based forest management systems in all forests of in Kenya. Consequently, forest dependent communities were forced away from the forest and lost the resources they used to collect from the forests for their livelihood. Thus, in the 1980s, there were confrontations between the government and communities surrounding forests which led to the need for Participatory Forest Management. The research therefore sought to examine how forest resource users' boundaries can be developed for enhanced sustainable community livelihoods and forest conservation. The specific objectives of the study were, to examine the extent to which participatory forest management boundaries are developed in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve; to examine the effectiveness of the government policies in governing forest resources and resource user's boundaries in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve and; to assess how the income of the forest dependent communities has been increased as a result of forest resources use and resource users' boundaries in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve. The study used a case study approach where qualitative data was collected to address the study objectives. The study employed purposive sampling to select 220 respondents from various groups involved in the co-management of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, using Yamane's formula to initially target 396 households from a population of 39,112, but ultimately included a mix of PFM and non-PFM households, government agencies, NGOs, and community leaders to ensure comprehensive representation. To collect data, semi-structured sets of questions were used to both participatory and non-participatory forest management households and all the data collected was analyzed qualitatively by putting similar themes together and using them to answer the study objectives. Based on the first objective, the study found that the development of participatory forest management boundaries in Arabuko-Sokoke has been largely successful, with most communities acknowledging the importance of such boundaries for sustainable resource use and forest conservation, facilitated by government agencies. Based on the second objective, the study found that government policies on forest resource and boundary regulation have been effective, significantly reducing resource destruction, although challenges such as community leader intimidation and insufficient protection for forest scouts highlight areas for policy and enforcement improvement. Concerning the third objective, the study revealed that the implementation of forest management boundaries and resource use regulations have positively impacted community livelihoods, enabling income-generating activities like beekeeping and tourism, which have contributed to educational advancements and a significant reduction in poverty levels. The study therefore recommends that the establishment of the forest resource use boundaries is necessary for sustainable community livelihood and forest conservation.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award for the Degree of Master of Environmental Studies and Community Development in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of Kenyatta University, April 2024.
Supervisors
1. Felix Ming’ate
2. Joseph Kurauka