Community Forest Associations Boundaries and Sustainable Forest Management in Loita Forest, Narok County, Kenya
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Date
2023-10-20
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJGR
Abstract
The Kenya Forest Act of 2005, subsequently revised in 2016, introduced the Kenya Forest Service
and its mandate to engage in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) agreements with local
communities adjoining state forests. This framework necessitated the establishment of Community
Forest Associations (CFAs) nationwide, including the Loita Community Forest Association.
However, a prevailing concern surrounding CFAs is the delineation and redefinition of boundaries,
an issue that has gained prominence due to Kenya's decentralized forest governance system and
the ambiguity surrounding the management of locally-held common resources. This study centers
on investigating the process of establishing boundaries for the CFAs both in forest resources and
the users within Loita Forest in Narok County, Kenya. Notably, Loita forest operates under a
Traditional Participatory Forest arrangement, controlled by community elders, led by the revered
Oloibon, who steers the resource utilization decisions. The vast expanse of Loita forest
encompasses both lush woodlands and savanna landscapes. Employing purposive sampling, the
study engaged 52 respondents from nine distinct Loita sub-locations. Key informants were
interviewed individually, complemented with focus group discussions conducted with the use of
semi-structured questions. Participant observation further enriched data collection, consolidating
insights from key informants and group discussions. Collected data was meticulously tape-recorded
and subjected to summative content analysis. The inquiry delved into the practicality of existing
traditional resource-use boundaries, the adequacy of governmental regulations, policies, and
institutions in elevating forest governance within Kenya, and the extent to which individual
indigenous rights have been upheld in managing and using communal forest resources. Key
findings of this study show that the Loita Maasai still values their traditional norms and have great
respect for cultural institutions. Major decisions concerning the management of Loita forest are
made by the council of elders led by the Chief Laibon. The study also found that there exists no
CFA in Loita forest and that the presence of government institutions in the forest is minimal. This
study's outcomes contribute to a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between
indigenous wisdom, modern frameworks, and sustainable forest management. It underscores the
indispensable role of tradition in shaping boundaries, governance, and ecological equilibrium within
Loita forest and offers practical directives for future forest management endeavors.
Description
Research Article