AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY FOREST ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF KARURA FOREST KENYA JOYCE SYOKAU NTHUKU C50/89214/2016 A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI. 2018 DECLARATION This research project is my original work and has not been submitted to any other university for academic award. ………………………… Date.................................... Nthuku, Joyce Syokau C50/89214/2016 This research project report has been submitted for examination with our approval as the university supervisors. ..................................... ................................... Dr. Thuita Thenya Dr. Theresa Mbatia Department of Geography and Department of Geography Environmental Studies Environmental studies University of Nairobi. University of Nairobi Date............................. Date………………… ii DEDICATION I dedicate this project to the Almighty God for this opportunity, his guidance, strength and grace throughout the study period. My husband Mr. Benjamin, daughters Sarah and Grace for their endurance, support and love during the course of study. May God richly bless them iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my very great appreciation to Dr. Thuita Thenya and Dr. Theresa Mbatia for their valuable guidance, commitment and advice during the preparation and production of this research paper. They went out of their way to work during odd hours to ensure the study was accorded the best. May the Almighty God bless them. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................ iv LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................x ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................................. xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 1.1 Background of the study problem........................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the research problem ........................................................................................ 2 1.3 Research questions ................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Overall Objective .......................................................................................................... 4 1.4.2 Specific Objectives ....................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Justification of the study ......................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Scope of study ........................................................................................................................ 5 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................... 6 2 .0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Case studies on the role of CFA activities in forest conservation and management .............. 6 2.1.1 Community Based Forest Management ...................................................................... 6 2.1.2 Evolution of Community involvement ........................................................................ 8 2.2 Relationship of Community Forest Association practices on forest management. ............. 10 2.2.1 Community Participation and Sustainable Forest Management ............................... 12 2.2.2 Character of CFAs and its influence on forest management. .................................... 13 2.3 profile of challenges against and opportunities to CFAs who participate in the management of Karura forest. ........................................................................................... 14 2.4 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................ 18 2.4.1 Common resource pool ............................................................................................. 18 2.4.2. Sustainable Forest Management ............................................................................... 18 2.4.3 Conceptual framework .............................................................................................. 20 v CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .............................................................................. 23 3.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Study area ............................................................................................................................. 23 3.1.1 Geographic location .................................................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Biophysical Description .............................................................................................. 25 3.1.1.1 Topography .............................................................................................................. 25 3.1.1.2 Climate ..................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1.3 Geology .................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.1.4 Soils.......................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Research design .................................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Sample size and sampling procedure ................................................................................... 28 3.3.1 Sample size ................................................................................................................. 28 3.3.2 Sampling Procedure .................................................................................................... 28 3.4 Data Collection methods ...................................................................................................... 29 3.4.1 Questionnaires............................................................................................................. 29 3.4.2 Observations checklist ................................................................................................ 29 3.4.3 Photography ................................................................................................................ 30 3.4.4 Key Informant Interview Schedules ........................................................................... 30 3.4.5 Secondary Data Collection ......................................................................................... 30 3.5 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 30 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS ...........................................................31 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 31 4.1.2 Gender distribution of respondents .............................................................................. 31 4.1.3 Community Based Organization respondents ............................................................. 32 4.1.4 Duration of stay as CBO members ............................................................................... 33 4.1.5 Level of Education of CBO members .......................................................................... 34 4.2 Forest management activities ............................................................................................... 35 4.2.1 Activities in Forest Management ................................................................................. 35 4.2.2 CBO activities undertaken separately without KFS ..................................................... 37 4.2.3 KFS activities undertaken without involvement of CBO members. ............................ 38 vi 4.2.4 Activities dictated by season ........................................................................................ 38 4.2.5 Activities which have improved in the forest. ........................................................... 39 4.3 Challenges faced by Community Based Organization in management of the forest ... 41 4.3.1 Financial support ....................................................................................................... 42 4.3.2 Participation in election of