Strategies Employed by the Government in Promoting SustainableConservation and Management of Kakamega Tropical Rainforest onHousehold Livelihoods
Keywords:
Strategies, Sustainable conservation and management and Household livelihoods.Abstract
This study assessed the strategies employed by the government in promoting sustainable conservation and management of Kakamega Tropical Rainforest on household livelihoods. The study applied the theories of Firey's (1960) Man, Mind and Land: A Theory of Resource Use and Sustainable Livelihoods Approach. The study was conducted in Shinyalu, Hamisi and Malava Sub-counties in Vihiga and Kakamega Counties. The study was descriptive and explanatory in design and relied on a mixed methods methodology. The target population was households in the selected communities neighbouring Kakamega tropical rainforest in western Kenya. Methods of data collection included: Questionnaire, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and Direct Observation. The questionnaire provided quantitative data, which were fed in SPSS version 23.0. Qualitative data obtained from the key informant interviews and the focus group discussions was fed in NVivo 11. A rising from the research findings, it can be concluded that; The strategies employed by the government in promoting sustainable conservation and management of Kakamega tropical rainforest on household livelihoods in Western Kenya, include; incentive-based approach of the Forest Department (FD), protectionist approach of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), a quasi-private incentive-based approach of Quakers Church Mission (QCM), community participation in forest conservation, and exploring farm forestry is a strategy employed by the government in promoting sustainable conservation and management of Kakamega tropical rainforest on household livelihoods. The study recommends that; The government should carry out more research and consultation on strategies to use in sustainable conservation and management of Kakamega tropical rainforest.
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