Ethnobotanical survey of Kiang,mbe forest, Kenya: Floristic inventory, utilization and conservation status

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dc.contributor.authorNgugi, Grace W.
dc.date.accessioned2011-11-24T09:06:12Z
dc.date.available2011-11-24T09:06:12Z
dc.date.issued2011-11-24
dc.descriptionThe SD 387.S86N45en_US
dc.description.abstractAn ethnobotanical and plant diversity survey was conducted in Kiang'ombe forest, Mbeere District. An integrated approach of botanical collections, vegetation study in randomly selected plots, forest walks with knowledgeable people, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), group discussions, semi - structured interviews, preference ranking and scoring, observation of people's activities, market surveys and household surveys using questionnaires was used in the study. Species richness, growth forms and uses of indigenous plants are described. The community living around Kiang'ombe distinguished and named 66 % of plant species. A total of 569 plant species distributed among 335 genera and 110 families are documented. 33 % are trees, 21.4 % shrubs, 29.5 % herbs (other than sedges and grasses), 4.6 % are climbers, 4.7 % sedges, 4.6 grasses and 2.1 % are lianas. 19 first records for Floral region K4 are described. Growth forms in hectare plot with circumference >_ 10 cm were found to be 54 % trees, 38 shrubs, 8 % lianas (woody vines), 0.5 % climbers (herbaceous vines) and 0.5 % were coppices from stumps. About 376 species (66 %) are used by Kiang'ombe people, many of which have multiple uses, including medicine, food, firewood, and building materials, with Malvaceae, Combretaceae, Boraginaceae, Myrtaceae, Thymelaceae, Tiliaceae and Moraceae families having the highest use values. On average each household uses 33 species for an average 7 uses with a household forest dependency weighted more on building materials and traditional medicine both at above 80%. There was significant difference in plant usage by people of different wealth categories and at different distances from the forest. Average annual household forest value was calculated at KSh. 16,175.6, thus the forest contributes on average 55.4% to the household income. The forest was found to have 8 species red listed as either vulnerable or endangered by IUCN, 27 endemic species, 12 of which are regional, 9 Kenyan, 5 K4 and 1 only known from Kiang'ombe. Harveya sp. Nov. (Scrophulariaceae), only known from Kiang'ombe, was collected as part of this study . and is being described. Threats to the forest and ten priority species for conservation were identified. Value of forest resources seems to be positively correlated with knowledge about the resources. Indigenous knowledge (IK) of Mbeere people on use and management of their plant resources is a valuable source of information for conservation and sustainable utilization of the plant biodiversity and, hence, conservation based on IK is recommended.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1721
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectForest surveys--Kenya, Kiangombe forest//Forrest mapping--Kenya, Kiangombe forest//Vegetation surveys--Kenya, Kiangombe foresten_US
dc.titleEthnobotanical survey of Kiang,mbe forest, Kenya: Floristic inventory, utilization and conservation statusen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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