Assessment of Illegal Forest Activities Distribution and Affected Tree Species in the Aberdare Ranges, Kenya
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Date
2025-05
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Globally, forest loss in mountains is rapidly increasing. The main causes of this loss are attributed to agriculture, forest fires and commercialization of forest products. The main objective of this study was do an assessment of illegal forest activities in relation to infrastructure and the species of trees affected in the Aberdare ranges, Kenya. It was guided by four research objectives which were to assess the nature of illegal activities; find out how illegal forest activities are spatially distributed; find out the commonly poached tree species and lastly; determine the correlation between location of illegal activities and infrastructure (roads, ranger posts and fence) in the Aberdare ranges. The study assumed that most of the illegal activities encountered during the surveys were sufficient to represent the status of illegal activities in Aberdare ranges. This study was guided by a conceptual framework that illustrated the interaction between anthropogenic activities, environmental characteristics, and institutional infrastructure in shaping the distribution of illegal activities in the Aberdare Ranges. Methodologically, the total line transect method was adopted as a study design. Data collection was done during routine elephant surveys in 2017 and 2021 led by the Kenya Wildlife and Research Institute and Kenya Wildlife Service. Additional data was obtained from Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit collected between 2015 and 2021. Data from both sources summed up to one data set of 955 records. The data was analyzed to determine the vulnerable tree species based on the frequency of times a tree species was affected by an illegal activity. The data was further mapped using ArcMap 10.8 to determine location and distribution of illegal activities while R software was used to determine the proximity relationship of illegal activities and different infrastructure (roads, fences, and guard outposts). Firstly, the results showed that illegal logging, snaring, charcoal making, firewood collection and fence damage were the top five most frequent illegal activities posing a serious threat to Aberdare ranges. Other activities recorded were honey harvesting, disposed waste, encroachment, Cannabis sativa cultivation, burnt areas, cut grass, fishing, tobacco farming and one case of abandoned motorbike. Secondly, the overall distribution showed that those illegal activities happened within Forest Reserves as compared to the National Park. Thirdly, among the tree species targeted by illegal logging Juniperus procera, Arundinaria alpina and Podocarpus latifolius/glacilior were the top three vulnerable trees with a frequency of 46%, 17% and 10% respectively. Lastly, the results showed that there was a significant difference between proximity of illegal activities location in relation to different infrastructure where most illegal activities happened close to the roads and fences and farther from KWS and KFS stations. The study concluded that illegal activities in the Aberdare Ranges pose a serious threat to biodiversity and the survival of key tree species. The results underscore the need for enhanced enforcement, strategic planning, and community engagement for sustainable conservation and management. The research recommends that a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach be adopted, integrating advanced technologies, enhanced law enforcement, proactive community engagement, and careful infrastructure planning
Description
A Research Thesis Report Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Environmental Science in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of Kenyatta University, May 2025
Supervisors;
1.James Biu Kung’u
2.Mwangi Kinyanjui