No abstract

Anthropogenic activities around Chepalungu forest has lead to its reduction in size and has resulted in its degradation. Continued dependency on this forest may result in its total depletion despite its high biological diversity and the value of its natural resources. Farmers in the area have been largely uninterested in adopting agroforestry practice around Chepalungu forest, despite the potential for these practices to reduce demands on the forest. This study identified barriers to adopting agroforestry practices around Chepalungu forest in Bomet County, Kenya. Researchers adopted descriptive survey research design in this study. The study was done in 2016. The study sites were four locations around Chepalungu forest (Bing’wa, Siongiroi, Ndanai, and Abosi), which are 5 km from the forest edge and were selected using simple random sampling method. A total of 377 household questionnaires were administered in the four locations. Chi-Square and Mann Whitney U tests were used in the data analysis. Significance levels were expressed at P<0.05 using SPSS version 17 software. The results showed that there was a significant association (c2= 530.8; P <0.01) between the types of agroforestry practices and challenges affecting the adoption of agroforestry practices. Notable challenges were: damage by animals, damage by man, tree nursery problems, inadequate capital, natural calamities, competing land uses, managerial problems and seed acquisition problems.  

South West Mau Forests (SWMF) is an important resource to Kenya and beyond. Despite its importance, there is an imminent anthropogenic threat to its conservation which has altered its current importance. There is a need for urgent implementation of sound and feasible forest conservation strategies with a clear understanding of incentives for sustainable forest conservation. This study was therefore carried out to identify threats to SWMF conservation and to determine incentives for its sustainable management. Purposive and systematically sampling techniques were used to identify study sites. Three transects were laid parallel to forest edge from which nine sites were selected. Households were identified using simple random sampling and a total of 225 questionnaires administered. Kruskal Wallis Test as provided in SPSS Version 12 package was used to test significant differences among forest threats. Chi-square (X 2 ) test was used to test for overall significant difference between incentives. Significant test levels were expressed at P < 0.05.

The study investigated forest conservation activities in Mt. Bracket (sacred forest) in South West Mau Forest. South West Mau Forest if found within central coordinates of 35° 38. 88ˈE and 0° 33. 00ˈS and an altitude of 1800 – 3000 m above sea level. Mt. Brackett was purposively chosen for study due to its religious and cultural benefits. Three transects were laid at 0-2 Km, 2-5 Km and over 5 Km parallel to the edge of forest and one study site selected from each transect. 225 household questionnaires were administered during the data collection by randomly identifying the first household (HH) in each study site and there after systematically selecting a HH after every third HH at an approximate distance of 300 m. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 12 package at significant test levels of P < 0.05. Sensitization on forest conservation (57.3%), research and policing (59.7%) and tree planting (64.0%) were the main forest conservation activities in the area. Chi-square test demonstrated that there was no significant association (P > 0.05) between forest conservation activities in Mt. Brackett forest and the study sites in all the transects. The paper recommends that households adjacent to forests need to be sensitized and educated on forest conservation especially through Community Forest Associations (CFAs).