Attitudes and Perceptions Among Issey and Masese Communities Towards Conservation of Forest Resources in Mau Forest Complex, Kenya
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Date
2020-09
Authors
Nyangweso, Hyline Nyatichi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Forests cover approximately 30% of the earth‘s land surface area and provide critical
ecosystem goods and services to mankind. However, forest cover in Kenya is among
the lowest in the world, currently at around 7.6%. The Mau Forest Complex is the
largest water tower in Kenya, but is threatened because of land use change and rapid
human population growth in the adjoining areas. The overall objective of this study
was to assess community attitudes and perception towards conservation of the Mau
Forest, and relate them to alternatives to forest resource use. Methodology for data
collection involved a case study survey. Semi-structured and structured questionnaires
were used to collect data from the local residents and Community Forest Association
officials, respectively. The hypotheses tested were that communities living in the
periphery of Mau Forest Complex have positive attitudes and perceptions towards the
forest and alternatives to forest resources, and that proximity influences the
community‘s attitudes towards the forest and people-wildlife conflicts. Pearson
correlation was used to find relationships between variables, and Chi-square test was
performed to determine statistical significance differences (p < 0.05) in responses
between the study areas (Masese and Issey). A total of 200 residents from Issey and
Masese areas of Bomet were interviewed. Men and female respondents interviewed
were 86% (n = 172) and 14% (n = 28), respectively. There were positive attitudes
towards the forest among most (89%) of the community members. As a result,
respondents were practicing some form of conservation of resources on their farms,
such as tree planting, and soil and water conservation. However, 60% of the
respondents indicated that they have had a bad experience with the forest, and people
wildlife-conflicts were causes of negative attitudes towards the forest. This study
gives a number of recommendations that can be used to foster forest conservation in
Kenya, such as training of residents about the environment, encouraging the use of
alternatives to forest resources, fostering local decision making and participation in
forest management, and compensation of losses as a result of wildlife invasion of
farms and homes. As elsewhere, these recommendations have the potential to create
positive attitudes towards the Mau Forest Complex and an apparent increase in
positive forest interactions and behavior that will ultimately lead to forest
conservation and well-being in Kenya.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Environmental Education) in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University, September, 2020
Keywords
Attitudes and Perceptions, Issey and Masese Communities, Conservation, Forest Resources, Mau Forest Complex, Kenya