Influence Of Community Participation On Forest Conservation In Maasai Mau Forest, Kenya

Abstract

The Maasai Mau forest plays an important role in supporting the livelihood of people living around the forest. However, its massive destruction has made news headlines in the country with the government and the local community publicly disagreeing on the conservation methods to be used. Community participatory approach has been heavily criticized as having failed to yield much needed conservation results. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of community participation on forest conservation in Maasai Mau Forest. It sought to find out the role of the local community in forest conservation, identify the different ways of dependency of the local community on the forest as a source of livelihood, and establish their perception on the ongoing conservation efforts. It is notably appreciated in this study that various studies have been carried out regarding nature conservation and more so in the Mau forest. However this study picked the above areas of concern which have not been widely studied and documented that will help in policy formulation and also in the area of academics. The geographical location of this study was in Maasai Mau forest which is part of the Mau forest complex. Because of the vastness of the forest, the study focused on Nkareta sub-county. This study used descriptive survey which were necessary for obtaining numerical data. Respondents were drawn from members of Nkareta Community Forest Association (CFA) and representatives were selected from the registered members of the CFA. Primary data were collected using a survey questionnaire consisting of semi- structured questions. Closed-ended and open-ended questions were posed. The key informants were interviewed and focus group discussions were carried out. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using tables and figures. It was found out that majority of the CFA members are not active in conservation due to lack of direct benefit from conservation initiatives. Active members participate in various forest conservation activities such as reforestation, seedlings production, coppice production, pruning and thinning of which they derive benefit. CFA members also participate in forest management, forest governance and sustainability and increase in forest cover but the level of involvement is low which cannot translate to effective conservation. It was also found out that the majority of the respondents own small parcels of land that cannot sustain their food requirements. To supplement food supply from their farms, they depend on forest land to cultivate food crops, obtain fodder for livestock, and obtain firewood and also building materials. The study established that majority of the members of the CFA have good perception about conservation but a significant percentage also have a poor perception of the process. The members of Nkareta CFA also felt that their rights, views and concerns on forest use have been respected while conserving the forest while there are those whom expressed concerns over evictions by the government and were unhappy about how the government is carrying out conservation. It is recommended that the Maasai Mau forest management should devise ways that will encourage more members of Nkareta to participate in Mau Forest Conservation because the participation levels are significantly low. Exploitation of forest resources should only be limited to active members. To reduce dependency on the forest, alternative means of livelihood should be provided to reduce dependency on the forest. It is also recommended that the government should devise initiatives to create a good perception among the community members who feel that conservation is not helpful at all. It should also find a way of settling the evictees from the forest and the settlement should be collaborative, and peaceful.