Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya
Identifying and characterizing ecosystem services (ES) has been shown to have an important role in sustainable natural resource management. However, understanding communities’ perspectives is critical in determining opportunities and constraints for ES management in multi-use landscapes. T...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Environments |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/5/11/121 |
| _version_ | 1811299657976905728 |
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| author | Caroline A. Ouko Richard Mulwa Robert Kibugi Margaret A. Owuor Julie G. Zaehringer Nicholas O. Oguge |
| author_facet | Caroline A. Ouko Richard Mulwa Robert Kibugi Margaret A. Owuor Julie G. Zaehringer Nicholas O. Oguge |
| author_sort | Caroline A. Ouko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Identifying and characterizing ecosystem services (ES) has been shown to have an important role in sustainable natural resource management. However, understanding communities’ perspectives is critical in determining opportunities and constraints for ES management in multi-use landscapes. To do so, a study was conducted around Mt. Marsabit forest, a multiuse landscape in Kenya. Using stratification, participants from 11 administrative locations adjacent to the forest were selected. A total of 265 households were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The study analyzed local communities’ perceptions of ES derived from the forest and their involvement in its management. Respondents identified trees, forage, water, fallback land cultivation, aesthetic enjoyment, and shade as key services derived from the forest. However, overexploitation of forest resources has led to degradation. Degradation and insecurity were perceived as the major threats to the ecosystem. The local communities were minimally involved in developing governance structures or management of this forest. Family size, education level, and age were important predictors of level of involvement in management. Lack of involvement in the forest management may have largely contributed to the unsustainable extraction of resources by local communities. We suggest that meaningful engagement of communities in the management of this forest will be critical to its sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:39:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35a00006633e4019b2500face5ca754f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:39:15Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-35a00006633e4019b2500face5ca754f2022-12-22T02:57:47ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982018-11-0151112110.3390/environments5110121environments5110121Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern KenyaCaroline A. Ouko0Richard Mulwa1Robert Kibugi2Margaret A. Owuor3Julie G. Zaehringer4Nicholas O. Oguge5Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, KenyaCentre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, KenyaCentre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, KenyaSchool of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Eastern Kenya University, P.O. Box 170, Kitui 90200, KenyaCentre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, CH-3012 Bern, SwitzerlandCentre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, KenyaIdentifying and characterizing ecosystem services (ES) has been shown to have an important role in sustainable natural resource management. However, understanding communities’ perspectives is critical in determining opportunities and constraints for ES management in multi-use landscapes. To do so, a study was conducted around Mt. Marsabit forest, a multiuse landscape in Kenya. Using stratification, participants from 11 administrative locations adjacent to the forest were selected. A total of 265 households were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The study analyzed local communities’ perceptions of ES derived from the forest and their involvement in its management. Respondents identified trees, forage, water, fallback land cultivation, aesthetic enjoyment, and shade as key services derived from the forest. However, overexploitation of forest resources has led to degradation. Degradation and insecurity were perceived as the major threats to the ecosystem. The local communities were minimally involved in developing governance structures or management of this forest. Family size, education level, and age were important predictors of level of involvement in management. Lack of involvement in the forest management may have largely contributed to the unsustainable extraction of resources by local communities. We suggest that meaningful engagement of communities in the management of this forest will be critical to its sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/5/11/121forest managementecosystem servicescommunity participationsustainability |
| spellingShingle | Caroline A. Ouko Richard Mulwa Robert Kibugi Margaret A. Owuor Julie G. Zaehringer Nicholas O. Oguge Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya Environments forest management ecosystem services community participation sustainability |
| title | Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya |
| title_full | Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya |
| title_short | Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and the Management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya |
| title_sort | community perceptions of ecosystem services and the management of mt marsabit forest in northern kenya |
| topic | forest management ecosystem services community participation sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/5/11/121 |
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