Influence of Community Dependence on Forest Conservation in Maasai Mau Forest, Kenya

The Maasai Mau forest plays an important role in supporting the livelihood of people living around the forest. However, its massive destruction has made news headlines in the country with the government and the local community publicly disagreeing on the conservation methods to be used. Community participatory approach has been heavily criticized as having failed to yield much needed conservation results. The purpose of this study is to examine the dependence of the local community on the forest as a source of livelihood. This study used descriptive survey design which was necessary for obtaining numerical data. Respondents were drawn from members of Nkareta Community Forest Association (CFA) who do not live within the marked cutline and representatives were selected from the registered members of the CFA. Primary data were collected using a survey questionnaire consisting of semi- structured questions. Closed-ended and open-ended questions were posed. The key informants were interviewed and focus group discussions were carried out. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using tables and figures. It was found out that majority (55.7 %) of the members of Nkareta CFA are not active members of the CFA. This was due to lack of direct benefit from conservation initiatives. It was also established that the majority (63.5 %) of the respondents own small parcels of land that cannot sustain their food requirements. The researcher from the study findings concluded that the local community is highly dependent on the local community for living and therefore the government needs to look into ways of providing alternative means of livelihood to reduce dependence on the forest. The government should introduce improved agricultural practices to the farmers which will go a long way in solving problems related to low yields which causes nutrient exhaustion hence farmers moving to new lands. The government should also provide low interest loans for people to do business to reduce dependence on forests.