CommerCial inseCts and Forest Conservation Improving Forest Conservation and Community Livelihoods through Income Generation from Commercial Insects in Three Kenyan Forests CommerCial inseCts and Forest Conservation Improving Forest Conservation and Community Livelihoods through Income Generation from Commercial Insects in Three Kenyan Forests Compiled by: Suresh K. Raina, Esther N. Kioko, Ian Gordon and Charles Nyandiga Lead Scientists: Elliud Muli, Everlyn Nguku and Esther Wang’ombe Sponsored by: UNDP/GEF and co-financed by IFAD, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, USAID, British High Commission and Toyota Environmental Grant Facility 2009 Acknowledgements The principal authors of this report are Suresh Raina and Esther Kioko. It also draws on technical materials especially provided by Vijay Adolkar, Ken Okwae Fening, Norber Mbahin, Boniface Ngoka, Joseph Macharia, Nelly Ndung’u, Alex Munguti and Fred Barasa. The final text benefitted from Charles Nyandiga and Ian Gordon’s editorial advice and contribution. Exceptional scientific, livelihood and market research assistance on qualitative and quantitative issues has been provided by Elliud Muli, Everlyn Nguku and Esther Wang’ombe. Peer review for the study was done by Oliver Chapayama. The final editing was completed by Dolorosa Osogo and Susie Wren and typesetting and cover design by Irene Ogendo and Sospeter Makau. Thanks also for the helpful comments received from members of the stakeholders committees and advisory groups, i.e. Christopher Gakahu, Jennifer Ngige, Rose Onyango and Bernard Masiga. Thanks for the field and laboratory assistance provided by Andrew Kitheka, Anthony Maina, Beatrice Njunguna, Daniel Muia, Florence Kiilu, Gladys Mose, Jael Lumumba, James Ng’ang’a, Loise Kawira, Mary Kahinya, Newton Ngui, Regina Macharia, Stephen Amboka, Caroline Mbugua, Emily Kadambi, Joseph Kilonzo and Martin Onyango. The fieldwork and support provided by the district forest officers and their staff and district livestock production officers and their staff at each project site are highly acknowledged. icipe finance and administration support was received from Patrick Ndiangui, Willis Awori and Roger Finan. The authors greatly acknowledge the icipe overall support and facilities received from Christian Borgemeister, the Director General, icipe. The research project was planned and carried out under the overall guidance of the late Dr Alan Rodgers, Director UNDP-GEF Africa region. —S.K. Raina, Programme Leader, Commercial Insects Programme, icipe ISBN 92 9064 208 4 © 2009 International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Edited by: Dolorosa Osogo and Susie Wren Typesetting and Layout (DTP): Irene Ogendo Cover Design: Irene Ogendo and Sospeter Makau Published by: icipe Science Press P. O. Box 72913-00200, Nairobi, Kenya Printed by: Kul Graphics Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya iv Improving Forest Conservation and Community Livelihoods Through Income Generation from Commercial Insects in Three Kenyan Forests Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................... v List of Technical Boxes .................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ...............................................................................................................vii List of Photos ................................................................................................................vii List of Tables .................................................................................................................. ix List of Boxes ................................................................................................................... ix Foreword ......................................................................................................................... x SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION Purpose and Scope of This Book ................................................................................3 Why Is This Project Important? ..................................................................................3 Forest Conservation—Crisis, What Crisis! .............................................................3 What This Project Planned to Achieve and How .....................................................4 Designed to Create Lasting Impact .........................................................................4 Linking Insect to Enterprise .....................................................................................5 Linking Insect to Conservation ................................................................................5 Influencing Policy ......................................................................................................6 Project Partners ..............................................................................................................7 Building Collaboration ..............................................................................................7 UNDP and GEF ..........................................................................................................8 International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) ............................9 Kenya Forest Service .................................................................................................9 Nature Kenya............................................................................................................10 NEMA ........................................................................................................................10 Commercial Partners ...............................................................................................10 Associate Partners ....................................................................................................10 Project Strategy .............................................................................................................11 Project Setting ...............................................................................................................12 Site Selection .............................................................................................................12 Natural and Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Sites ..................................13 Kakamega Forest Reserve and National Reserve ................................................13 Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve ............................................................................15 Mwingi Forest Reserves, Eastern Province ..........................................................17 SECTION 2: THE PROJECT IN ACTION Tackling the Main Issues ............................................................................................23 Action Planning........................................................................................................23 Central Activities and Their Drivers .....................................................................23 Forest Monitoring ........................................................................................................25 Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool ............................................................25 Threat Reduction Assessment ................................................................................26 Biodiversity Monitoring ..........................................................................................27 Commercial Insects Monitoring ............................................................................28 Chapter title v Conservation and Communities ...............................................................................36 Community-Driven Approach ...............................................................................36 Participatory Forest Management .........................................................................37 Buffer Zone Tree Planting .......................................................................................38 Improved Livelihoods .................................................................................................39 Training and Capacity Building ............................................................................39 Technical Research to Improve Commercial Production ...................................41 Organic Certification ...............................................................................................50 Building the Value Chain .......................................................................................52 Marketplaces for Silk and Honey Products ........................................................56 Value Addition .........................................................................................................57 SECTION 3: EXPERIENCES AND ACHIEVEMENTS Contributing to the Millennium Development Goals .........................................63 Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger .................................................63 Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women .................................63 Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability .....................................................63 Goal 8: Global Partnerships for Development .....................................................64 Linking Conservation and Livelihoods ...................................................................64 Increasing Livelihood Options and Reducing Rural Poverty .............................66 Beekeeping ................................................................................................................66