The Nexus between Community Participation in Conservation and Land Cover Change in Kakamega Forest, Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Laura, Agweyu
Kweyu, Raphael Mulaha
Thomas, Kibutu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Research & Development Organisation (IJRDO)
Abstract
Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is essential for sustainable forest management as it’s
based on the assumption that the forest provide both tangible and intangible goods to forest
adjacent dwellers. In Kenya PFM is provided under the Forest Conservation and
Management Act (2016). The law is meant to ensure that degradation of forests was halted
but at the same time forest adjacent communities benefit from forest goods and services. A
lot of studies have been carried out on the extend of forest cover change in major forest
towers but there is limited information on the relationship between community participation
in forest conservation and its effect on forest cover change on Kakamega Forest. The level of
water has reduced gradually in some of the rivers whose source is Kakamega forest due to
forest cover loss. The study targeted FAC that included CFA members at 5km radius from the
forest edge in Shinyalu, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers, and Community Based
Organization (CBO) leaders. The target population on land cover change information was
composed of images acquired from 1998 to 2018. A sample size of 187 CFA members was
selected using simple random and purposive sampling method was used to select 7 CBO
leaders and one KFS officer. Data was collected using questionnaires, focused group
discussions, interview schedules and remotely sensed satellite images. Data from
questionnaires was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software
i.e.-frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations and presented in form of tables.
Medium resolution satellite data was analysed both spatially and statistically. Spatially, the
extent of the area covered by different land cover types in Kakamega Forest in 2000, 2008
and 2018 was captured on different satellite image data sets using Geographical Information
System (GIS) software. The study findings revealed that various Kakamega forest land
classes increased between 2000-2008 due to CFA activities like afforestation, reforestation
and agroforestry but the forest cover declined within the period of 2008-2018 except
grassland vegetation which increased all through. Study findings indicate that some of the
activities that increased the forest cover included afforestation, reforestation and agroforestry
Training of more CFA scouts and deployment of additional rangers to man the vast forest
alongside creating awareness through chief baraza to the local community on the need for
conserving kakamega forest was recommended.
Description
Article
Keywords
nexus, community forest associations, forest cover change, conservation
Citation
Thomas, R. (2023). The Nexus between Community Participation in Conservation and Land Cover Change in Kakamega Forest, Kenya. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals, 3(06), 12-14.