Designing a Functioning Community Forest Association: A Case of Muileshi, Kakamega County, Kenya
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Date
2016
Authors
Ming’ate, F.L.M.
Letema, S.
Obiero, K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Knowledgia Scientific
Abstract
Participatory Forest Management was introduced into law with the passing of the Kenya Forest Act
of 2005, which provides a legal basis for communities in Kenya, to participate in forest management. In Kenya
Participatory forest management entails the involvement of the forest adjacent community members through
formation of Community Forest Associations, which participates in the management of the forest with the Kenya
Forest Service (KFS) and other stakeholders. This paper examines the design and functioning of Muileshi community
forest Association in Kakamega Kenya to answer a key question in current participatory forest management literature
on how one can design a functioning community forest association that can conserve the forest resources as well as
provide sustainable livelihoods to the poor forest dependent communities. The study utilized documents and a focus
group discussion with Muileshi community forest association to answer this question. All the data collected was
qualitatively analyzed by putting the key themes together from both the documents and focus group discussion and
using them to answer the study objective. It is conclude in the study that a well designed community forest association
can contribute significantly to the conservation a community based forest as well as deliver livelihoods to the
communities adjacent to the forests that depend on them for their livelihoods. It is recommended that there is need to
strengthen the community forest association arrangements to enable them operate efficiently.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Designing, Community forest association, Muileshi, Kakamega, Kenya
Citation
Asian Journal of Applied Sciences Volume 04 – Issue 05, October 2016