Analysis of Socio-Economic Drivers of Cattle Grazing and Grass Harvesting in the Mount Kenya West Protected Forest, Kenya

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Apr 20, 2022
https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.1.1.127
Download
pdf
Statistic
2022: Special Issue:African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Paul M. Maina
St. Paul's University
Daniel M. Nzengya
St. Paul's University

Abstract

Management of community utilization of protected resources in protected forests is a huge challenge, particularly in the Mount Kenya region because of limited research data on the dynamics and characteristics of households living adjacent to protected forests. This research, conducted in the Mount Kenya West protected forest, sought to examine household perceptions on the different sources of pasture and fodder, to assess the significant household characteristics in driving smallholder farmers dependence on protected forests for pasture and to assess the significance of household characteristics in driving smallholder farmers’ dependence on protected forests for grass harvesting for livestock fodder. The research followed a cross-sectional research design with smallholder farmers dwelling adjacent to three forest blocks, namely, Kahurura, Hombe, and Chehe as the target population. The data was collected from May to October 2019. Questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of 453 participants. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the significant household characteristics in driving forest dependence cattle grazing and grass harvesting. Results obtained revealed that significant household characteristics driving forest dependence for pasture were the ownership of zero-grazing unit (p=0.03 < 0.05), the proportion of cattle under zero grazing (p=0.04 < 0.05) and proximity to the forest (p=0.08 <0.1). The proportion of cattle in zero-grazing units had the highest marginal effect, followed by ownership of zero-grazing units with proximity to the forest having the lowest marginal effects. Significant household characteristics driving smallholder famers’ dependence on protected forests for grass harvesting for cattle included: a household’s socio-economic status (p=0.06<0.1), a household’s total size of land owned (p= 0.02 < 0.05), and proportion of cattle kept under a zero-grazing unit (p=0.07<0.1). The proportion of cattle in zero-grazing unit had the highest marginal effects followed by the total size of land owned. These findings contribute to knowledge on the significant micro-level characteristics driving the two forms of forest dependence investigated. Future studies are needed to explore the meso-and- macro-level factors that interact with household characteristics identified to drive forest dependence for livestock grazing and grass harvesting.
Keywords: Forest dependency; Local communities; Logistic regression, Livestock, Livelihoods, Mount Kenya West protected forest

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

How to Cite
Maina, P. M., & Nzengya, D. M. (2022). Analysis of Socio-Economic Drivers of Cattle Grazing and Grass Harvesting in the Mount Kenya West Protected Forest, Kenya. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 1(1), 188–209. https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.1.1.127

References

  1. Adam, Y. O. (2014). Forest dependency and its effect on conservation in Sudan: A case of Sarf- Saaid Reserved Forest in Gadarif state.
  2. Adhikari, B., Di Falco, S., & Lovett, J. C. (2003). Household Characteristics and Forest Dependency: Evidence from Common Property Forest Management in Nepal. Ecological Economics.
  3. Aliyu, A., Modibbo, M. A., Medugu, N. I., & Ayo, O. (2014). Impacts of deforestation on socio- economic development of Akwanga Nasarawa State. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology.
  4. Appiah, D. O. (2009). Personifying Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Forest Fringe Communities In Ghana: A Historic Rhetoric. Journal of food, agriculture & environment, 7(3&4), 873- 877
  5. Bauhoff, S., & Busch, J. (2020). Does deforestation increase malaria prevalence? Evidence from satellite data and health surveys. World Development
  6. Belsky, A. J., & Blumenthal, D. M. (1997). Effects of Livestock Grazing on Stand Dynamics and Soils in Upland Forests of the Interior West.
  7. Buffum, B., Gratzer, G., & Tenzin, Y. (2009). Forest grazing and natural regeneration in a late successional broadleaved community forest in Bhutan. Mountain Research and development
  8. Chakma, D., Huda, S. S., Hossain, M. A., & Nath, T. K. (2020). Forest Dependency and Conservation Attitude of Indigenous Communities: Lessons from Komolchari Village Common Forest of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry
  9. Chakraborty, A., Joshi, P. K., & Sachdeva, K. (2018). Capturing Forest Dependency in the Central Himalayan Region: Variations Between Oak (Quercus spp.) and Pine (Pinus spp.) dominated forest landscapes. Ambio, 47(4), 504-522.
  10. Chornesky, E. A., Collins, S. L., Dobson, A. P., Duke, C. S., Mappin, M. J., Palmer, M. A., & Bernhardt, E. S. (2005). Ecological Science and Sustainability for the 21st Century. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 3(1), 4-11.
  11. Deresa, F., & Legesse, T. (2015). Cause of land degradation and its impacts on livelihoods of the population in Toke Kutaye Woreda, Ethiopia. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 5(5), 1-9.
  12. Doggart, N., Morgan-Brown, T., Lyimo, E., Mbilinyi, B., Meshack, C. K., Sallu, S. M., & Spracklen, D. V. (2020). Agriculture is the main driver of deforestation in Tanzania. Environmental Research Letters, 15(3), 034028.
  13. Duguma, L. A., Atela, J., Minang, P. A., Ayana, A. N., Gizachew, B., Nzyoka, J. M., & Bernard,
  14. F. (2019). Deforestation and forest degradation as an environmental behavior: unpacking realities shaping community actions. Land, 8(2), 26.
  15. Duguma, L. A., Atela, J., Minang, P. A., Ayana, A. N., Gizachew, B., Nzyoka, J. M., & Bernard,
  16. F. (2019). Deforestation and forest degradation as an environmental behavior: unpacking realities shaping community actions. Land, 8(2), 26.
  17. Enbakom, H. W., Feyssa, D. H., & Takele, S. (2017). Impacts of deforestation on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 12(15), 1293-1305.
  18. Galway, L. P., Acharya, Y., & Jones, A. D. (2018). Deforestation and child diet diversity: A geospatial analysis of 15 Sub-Saharan African countries. Health & place, 51, 78-88.
  19. Gurung, B., Nelson, K. C., & Smith, J. L. (2009). Impact of Grazing Restrictions on Livestock Composition And Husbandry Practices in Madi Valley, Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Environmental Conservation, 338-347.
  20. Hartter, J. (2009). Attitudes of rural communities toward wetlands and forest fragments around Kibale National Park, Uganda. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 14(6), 433-447.
  21. Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., Angelsen A., & Romijn, E. (2012). An assessment of deforestation and forest degradation drivers in developing countries. Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009.
  22. Jain, P., & Sajjad, H. (2016). Household Dependency on Forest Resources in the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), India: Implications for management. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 35(1), 60-74.
  23. Jannat, M., Hossain, M. K., & Uddin1&2, M. M. (2018). Socio-economic Factors of Forest Dependency in Developing Countries: Lessons Learned from the Bandarban Hill District of Bangladesh. Am. J. Pure Appl. Sci, 2(3), 77-84.
  24. Kikoti, I. A., & Mligo, C. (2015). Impacts of Livestock Grazing on Plant Species Composition in Montane Forest On The Northern Slope Of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 11(2), 114-127.
  25. Kiplagat, A. K., Mburu, J., & Mugendi, D. N. (2008). Consumption of Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya: accessibility, role and value to resident rural households.
  26. Koech, C. K., Ongugo, P. O., Mbuvi, M. T. E., & Maua, J. O. (2009). Community Forest Associations in Kenya: Challenges and Opportunities. Kenya Forestry Research Institute.
  27. Koyuncu, C., & Yilmaz, R. (2009). The impact of corruption on deforestation: cross-country evidence. The Journal of Developing Areas, 213-222.https://doi.org/10.1353/jda.0.0010
  28. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and psychological measurement, 30(3), 607-610.
  29. Kumar, V. (2015). Impact of Non-Timber Forest Produces (NTFPs) on food and livelihood security: An economic study of tribal economy in Dang's district of Gujarat, India. International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology, 8(2), 387- 404.
  30. Kutiote, J.O., Patricia Tarlue J.V., Nasir Umar A., Prudence Chanda, Aisha-Lul A.N., Patricia Nalumansi, Pius Mbuya Nina (2019): Deforestation of Igwe Forest and its Effects on Livelihood Patterns of Peripheral Communities in Bugiri District, Uganda
  31. Lepetu, J., Alavalapati, J., & Nair, P. K. (2009). Forest Dependency and its Implication for Protected Areas Management: A Case Study from Kasane Forest Reserve, Botswana. International Journal of Environmental Research, 3(4), 525-536.
  32. Lobovikov, M., German, L., Jaeger, D., Kengen, S., Konijnendijk, C., Buttoud-Kouplevatskaya, I., ... & Stadt, J. J. (2010). Extra-sectoral drivers of forest change (Vol. 25, pp. 235-246). IUFRO (International Union of Forestry Research Organizations) Secretariat.
  33. Mapulanga, A. M., & Naito, H. (2019). Effect of deforestation on access to clean drinking water. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(17), 8249-8254.
  34. Martindale, T. (2014). Heritage, Skills and Livelihood: Reconstruction and Regeneration In A Cornish Fishing Port. In Social issues in sustainable fisheries management (pp. 279-299). Springer, Dordrecht.
  35. Maseko, H., Shackleton, C. M., Nagoli, J., & Pullanikkatil, D. (2017). Children and wild foods in the context of deforestation in rural Malawi. Human Ecology, 45(6), 795-807.
  36. Matias, D. M. S., Tambo, J. A., Stellmacher, T., Borgemeister, C., & von Wehrden, H. (2018). Commercializing Traditional Non-Timber Forest Products: An Integrated Value Chain Analysis of Honey from Giant Honeybees in Palawan, Philippines. Forest Policy and Economics, 97, 223-231.
  37. Matiku, P., Caleb, M., & Callistus, O. (2013). The Impact of Participatory Forest Management on Local Community Livelihoods in The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya.Conservation and Society, 11(2), 112-129.
  38. Mbiba, M., Collinson, M., Hunter, L., & Twine, W. (2019). Social capital is Subordinate To Natural Capital In Buffering Rural Livelihoods From Negative Shocks: Insights from rural South Africa. Journal of rural studies, 65, 12-21
  39. MEA. (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-Being. World Resources Institute. Retrieved from https://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf
  40. Miah, M. D., Chakma, S., Koike, M., & Muhammed, N. (2012). Contribution of Forest to the livelihood of the Chakma community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Journal of forest research, 17(6), 449-457.
  41. Mishra, A., & Mishra, D. K. (2012). Deforestation and Women’s Work Burden in the Eastern Himalayas, India: Insights from a Field Survey. Gender, Technology and Development, 16(3), 299-328.
  42. Mishra, S., & Pathak, P. S. (2015). Fodder Production and Conservation: A Potential Source of Livelihood for Women.
  43. Munanura, I. E., Backman, K. F., Sabuhoro, E., Powell, R. B., & Hallo, J. C. (2018). The perceived forms and drivers of forest dependence at Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Environmental Sociology, 4(3), 343-357.
  44. Mutune, J. M., Wahome, R. G., & Mungai, D. N. (2015). Local Participation in Community Forest Associations: A Case Study of Sururu and Eburu Forest, Kenya.
  45. Nawrotzki, R. J., Hunter, L. M., & Dickinson, T. W. (2012). Rural livelihoods and access to natural capital: Differences between migrants and non-migrants in Madagascar.
  46. Nelson, J., Muhammed, N., & Abdul Rashid, R. (2015). Community’s Forest Dependency and its Effects Towards the Forest Resources and Wildlife Abundances in Sarawak, Malaysia. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 22(5),
  47. Nepal, S. K. (2002). Tourism as a key to sustainable mountain development: the Nepalese Himalayas in retrospect. UNASYLVA-FAO-, 38-45.
  48. Ngatia, J., Ngecu, W. M., & Thuita, T. (2017). High community expectation against low societal transformation through community-based income generating activities. Analysis of Participatory Forest management in Kenya 2005-2013.
  49. Olarewaju, T. O., Orumwense, L. A., Agbor, C. F., & Awe, F. (2017). Forest degradation and Livelihood: A case study of government forest reserves of Ogun state, Nigeria. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 10(2), 137-150.
  50. Ongugo, P. O., Langat, D., Oeba, V. O., Kimondo, J. M., Owuor, B., Njuguna, J., & Russell, A.
  51. J. (2014). A review of Kenya’s national policies relevant to climate change adaptation and mitigation: Insights from Mount Elgon (Vol. 155). CIFOR.
  52. Ongugo, P. O., Mogoi, J. N., Obonyo, E., & Oeba, V. O. (2008). Examining the Roles of Community Forest Associations (CFAS) in the Decentralization Process of Kenyan Forest.
  53. Orodho, A. J. (2013). Essentials of Educational and Social Sciences Research Method. Nairobi: Masola Publishers.
  54. Ouko, C. A., Mulwa, R., Kibugi, R., Owuor, M. A., Zaehringer, J. G., & Oguge, N. O. (2018). Community perceptions of ecosystem services and the management of Mt. Marsabit Forest in Northern Kenya. Environments, 5(11), 121.
  55. Pattanayak, S., Dickinson, K., Corey, C., Murray, B., Sills, E., & Kramer, R. (2006). Deforestation, malaria, and poverty: a call for transdisciplinary research to support the design of cross-sectoral policies. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 2(2), 45- 56.
  56. Piana, R. P., & Marsden, S. J. (2014). Impacts of cattle grazing on forest structure and raptor distribution within a neotropical protected area. Biodiversity and Conservation, 23(3), 559-572.
  57. Pouliot, M., Treue, T., Obiri, B. D., & Ouedraogo, B. (2012). Deforestation and the limited contribution of forests to rural livelihoods in West Africa: evidence from Burkina Faso and Ghana. Ambio, 41(7), 738-750.
  58. Ratovonamana, Y. R., Rajeriarison, C., Roger, E., Kiefer, I., & Ganzhorn, J. U. (2013). Impact of livestock grazing on forest structure, plant species composition and biomass in South Western Madagascar. Scripta Botanica Belgica, 50, 82-92.
  59. Rice, M. W. (2012). In the Name of the Tiger: Narrative Analysis on Conservation and Indigenous Forest Rights in India.
  60. Rudel, T. K. (2013). The national determinants of deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 368(1625), 20120405.
  61. Ruwanza, S., & Shackleton, C. M. (2017). Ecosystem‐ scale impacts of non‐ timber forest product harvesting: effects on soil nutrients. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54(5), 1515- 1525.
  62. Sarmah, R., Arunachalam, A., & Melkania, U. (2011). Utilization Pattern of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) by the Tribal People in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, India. . Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products,18(2), 105-118.
  63. Schreckenberg, K., & Luttrell, C. (2009). Participatory forest management: a route to poverty reduction? International Forestry Review, 11(2), 221-238.
  64. Shrestha, B. M., Sitaula, B. K., Singh, B. R., & Bajracharya, R. M. (2004). Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Soil Aggregates Under Different Land Use Systems In Nepal. Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, 70(2), 201-213.
  65. Silori, C. S., & Mishra, B. K. (2001). Assessment Of Cattle Grazing Pressure In And Around The Elephant Corridors In Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, South India. Biodiversity & Conservation, 10(12), 2181-2195.
  66. Soofi, M., Ghoddousi, A., Zeppenfeld, T., Shokri, S., Soufi, M., Jafari, A., & Waltert, M. (2018). Livestock grazing in protected areas and its effects on large mammals in the Hyrcanian forest, Iran. Biological Conservation, 217, 377-382.
  67. Steve, N. (2017). Monitoring Non-timber Forest Products Using Forest Inventory Data: An example with Slippery Elm Bark.Journal of Forestry, 115(4), 292-299.
  68. Tripti, K., Bauri, T., Palit, D., & Mukherjee, A. (2015). Livelihood dependency of rural people utilizing non-timber forest product (NTFP) in a moist deciduous forest zone, West Bengal, India.International Journal of Advanced Research, 3(4), 1030-1040.
  69. Tucker, R. P. (1986). The Evolution of Transhumant Grazing in The Punjab Himalaya. Mountain Research and Development, 17-28.
  70. Uberhuaga, P., Smith-Hall, C., & Helles, F. (2011). Forest income and dependency in lowland Bolivia. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14(1), 3-23.
  71. Widiyanto, A. (2019). Factors Influencing Farmers Decision in Community-Based Forest Management Program, KPH Ciamis, West Java. Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research, 6(1), 1-16.
  72. Wolff, N. H., Masuda, Y. J., Meijaard, E., Wells, J. A., & Game, E. T. (2018). Impacts of tropical deforestation on local temperature and human well-being perceptions. Global Environmental Change, 52, 181-189.
  73. Wunder, S., Angelsen, A., & Belcher, B. (2014). Forest, Livelihoods, And Conservation: Broadening the Empirical