Abstract
Forests contribute significantly to the livelihoods of forest adjacent communities. Under the Kenya's new Forest Act (2005), community participation in forest conservation is provided for through formation of Community Forest Associations (CFAs). This study focused on Ontukigo and Ngare Ndare CFAs involved in participatory management of Ontulili and Ngare Ndare forests in North Central Kenya. It aimed at identifying household factors associated with decision to participate in PFM and the differences between CFA and non-CFA members in their participation in forest conservation activities. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to randomly selected 80 CFA and 80 non-CFA members. Factors influencing household decision to join CFA included household size (, ), age (, ), number of cows (, ) and sheep (, ) owned by CFA (6.6) and non-CFA (4.2), farm size (, ) and forms of land tenure. Other factors included distance of homestead from forest (, ), sources of fodder (, ), access to forest products (, ), crop land (, ), and awareness of Forest Act 2005 (, ). Participation in forest conservation was positively influenced by CFA membership (, ). Majority of CFA members (80%) participated highly in forest patrol, fire control, tree nurseries, and tree planting activities.
Highlights
Forests are globally important in conservation of the environment, biodiversity, water, and soil resources
Gender and Household Headship. e relationship between Community Forest Associations (CFAs) membership and gender had some signi cance gender is an important determinant in household decision to join CFA
Gender had a signi cant in uence on participation of community members in forest conservation irrespective of CFA membership. is agrees with the observation made by Coulibaly-Lingani et al [17] in Burkina Faso, that there is a highly signi cant relation between gender and participation in forest conservation. is implies that gender is important in forest participation in Kenya as for other developing countries such as Burkina Faso
Summary
Forests are globally important in conservation of the environment, biodiversity, water, and soil resources. Conservation of these resources is very vital because of their contribution to the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to the forest by providing them with various ecosystem goods and services. Some of the products obtained from the forests by adjacent communities include fuel wood, food in form of wild fruits and vegetables, medicinal herbs, wood for carving, and other small cottage industries. In Kenya, gazetted forests cover a total area of 1.4 million hectares, representing about 1.7% of total land area. E forests outside gazetted forests are estimated to be 0.18 million hectares and are mainly situated in high and medium potential areas where the human population and agricultural production are concentrated [2] In Kenya, gazetted forests cover a total area of 1.4 million hectares, representing about 1.7% of total land area. is does not meet the internationally recommended minimum of 10% of country forest cover. e forests outside gazetted forests are estimated to be 0.18 million hectares and are mainly situated in high and medium potential areas where the human population and agricultural production are concentrated [2]
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