Forest Conservation Overview

Participatory Forest Management

Important components of sustainable natural resource management strategies across East Africa are the necessity of ensuring clear incentives for communities to limit local resource use to sustainable levels, including the provision of non-forest alternative sources of income and subsistence and a legitimate participation in forest management.

Reforms in the forestry sector led to the government adopting Participatory Forest Management (PFM) as a strategy to sustainably manage of Kenya’s forests and woodland areas for current and future generations. The recognition of forest adjacent communities as key stakeholders and users of natural resources is considered vital if successful management is to be attained. The Act provides for communities living beside the forests to enter into collaborative management agreements with Kenya Forest Service through Community Forest Associations (CFAs).

Arabuko-Sokoke forest is administratively divided into three forest stations, thus three community forest associations are established and participate in the forest management. Their members undertake various economic and social activities namely butterfly farming, beekeeping, herbal medicine collection, Eco-tourism activities, tree nurseries and fuel wood collection. However, as population increases, so has the pressure on the natural resources, and this has led to the need to initiate alternatives to enhance sustainable use of forest resources.