Contribution of community-based forest conservation approaches in the sustainability and management of Aberdare forest (Ndaragwa forest)

Abstract

The study sought to identify the community-based forest conservation approaches that have contributed to the sustainable management of Aberdare Forest (Ndaragwa forest). The study was undertaken within Ndaragwa forest in the Aberdare Forest Ecosystem, Nyandarua County. The researcher targeted all the forest officials. Purposive sampling shall also be employed while conducting the survey. The data was collected through field interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Experts in the field made sure that the validity of the tools was achieved. The researcher used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and Microsoft Excel for data analysis. This implies that there is a strong positive relationship between Community-based forest conservation and sustainable forest management that is significant at 5 per cent levels of significant. This is attained through capacity building and holding beliefs for the local community that would have been aimed at empowering them to take care of the surrounding natural resources. In devolved governance, the forestry sector needs to incorporate participatory forest management and co-management. The study recommended that the local communities should be engaged in community-based forest conservation strategies like preparation of tree nurseries and raising tree seedlings for planting to increase forest cover and preservation of indigenous trees, as agro-forestry reduces over-reliance on the forest.