Motivation and implementation in participatory forest management: A comparative study of urban and rural forests in Kenya

Abstract

Community participation in natural resource management is a subject influenced by several factors. One of the areas that has received focus in the study of community and environment is socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors that influence community’s environmental concern is the rural urban settlements. This study aims to explore how the rural and urban social structure influences determinants of community participation in forest management. Ngong’ Road Forest in Nairobi City County and Kiptuget forest in Baringo County were purposefully selected to represent urban and rural forests respectively. Data was collected through administration of questionnaires, interviews and participants’ observation review of PFM technical reports, peer reviewed articles, publications, books and journals. Analysis of data was done by use of frequencies, percentages, cross tabulation and t test. The study found out that Ngong road forests had more motivating factors as compared to Kiptuget forest. It was also established that Ngong Road forest had done more in the implementation of forest conservation and income generating activities as compared to Kiptuget forest. The study recommended that the state agency should work to identify ways and means necessary to inform diversification of forest activities in forests particularly those in rural areas Kenya. Furthermore, investment should be done to enhance capacity of community to implement planned activities. © 2019, Institute of Advanced Scientific Research, Inc.. All rights reserved.