Empowering the Community for Effective Environment Management

The Case of the Kakamega Forest, Kenya

Textbook , 2013 , 51 Pages , Grade: A

Environmental Sciences

The Purpose of this study was to examine the development condition of the community living close to the Kakamega forest and to recommend strategies for developing the community, so that the community can contribute more effectively to the co-management of the natural resources. The author worked with forest committees in order to study the development issues, needs and priorities of the community; the resources in the community; the community’s judgment of the previous and current development projects; and the experience of the community in relation to the development projects. The author used situational analysis, direct and participant observation, as well as two focused group discussions to obtain the data. The participants were members of the forest committees who represent the communities living within the 10km radius from forest boundary. Study findings indicate that there are limited community development projects in the area. These projects cannot adequately meet the needs of the community and cannot sustainably lead to environment conservation. The community largely participated in the development as either casual laborers or self employed community group members. The willingness to participate was influenced by the desire to improve the living conditions, while barriers to participation included perceived corruption, myths about gender, age and development, as well as exclusion. This community has a wealth of the resources including, water, sugarcane waste, medicinal plants, and potential climate for agriculture, small scale land, skilled and unskilled labor. Development opportunities in the area include: The closeness of the area to the Kakamega town and its wide market; the unexplored tourism and wildlife sector near and in the Kakamega National Reserve; and the marketing of the Luhya culture in tourism. To keep a balance between conservation and community interest, policy and development strategies should emphasize investment in community development. This will reduce over reliance on the forest for most of the community’s socio-economic needs.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER ONE
  • INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY
  • 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Kakamega Forest
  • 1.2 The purpose of the Study
  • 1.3 The contribution of this study.
  • 1.4 Scope and Limitations...
  • 1.5 Theoretical Framework.
  • 1.6 Research Design..
  • 1.6.1 Situational Analysis
  • 1.6.2 Participant Observations.
  • 1.6.3 Focused Group Discussions
  • 1.6.4 Research Process..
• CHAPTER TWO
  • COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT.
  • 2. The Meaning of Community Development.
  • 2.1 The context of Community Development..
  • 2.1.1 The People in Community Development..
  • 2.1.2 The Institutions in Community Development....
  • 2.1.3 The Development Issues in Community Development.
  • 2.1.4 Resources in community Development.
  • 2.2 Community Development and Natural Resources..
  • 2.3 Conclusion
• CHAPTER THREE
  • THE CO-MANAGEMENT OF KAKAMEGA FOREST: A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
  • 3. Introduction to the Kakamega Forest...
  • 3.1 Community Needs and Priorities.
  • 3.2 Development Projects towards Co-Management of the Natural resources
  • 3.2.1 The Shamba system.
  • 3.2.2 Kakamega Environmental Education Program..
  • 3.2.3 Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation..
  • 3.3.4 International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology
  • 3.3 The Community's Judgment of the Previous or Current Projects.
  • 3.4 Community's Participation in Environment Projects
  • 3.5 Conclusion
• CHAPTER FOUR
  • INCENTIVES FOR EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY
  • 4. Introduction...
  • 4.1 Voluntary Community Participation.
  • 4.2 Gender and Environment Management
  • 4.3 Age and Environment Management
  • 4.4 Education, Local Governance and Development..
  • 4.5 Development Issues, Needs, and Priorities of the Community
  • 4.5.1 Main development problems in the area...
  • 4.5.2 The role of political leaders in community development projects
  • 4.6 The Community's Experiences with Community Development Projects
  • 4.6.1 Community development projects in the area..
  • 4.6.2 Activities conducted by the development organizations
  • 4.6.3 Community complains about the development projects..
  • 4.6.4 Benefits the project had brought to the Community
  • 4.7 Community Participation in the Development Projects..
  • 4.7.1 Community participation in the projects.
  • 4.7.2 Community participation.
  • 4.7.3 The content of community participation.
  • 4.7.4 Community willingness to participate in community projects.
  • 4.7.5 Prospective barriers to participation..
  • 4.8 Resources and Development Opportunities in the Area
  • 4.9 Conclusion
• CHAPTER FIVE
  • CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
  • 5. Introduction..
  • 5.1 Conclusion
  • 5.2 Recommendations.
  • 5.3 Further Research

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to investigate the development condition of the community residing near the Kakamega forest in Kenya and propose strategies to empower the community for effective environmental management. The study focuses on how the community can contribute to the co-management of natural resources by examining their development issues, needs, priorities, and experiences with existing projects.

• Community development and its relationship to environment management.
• The effectiveness of previous and current development projects in empowering the community.
• Identifying resources, opportunities, and challenges for sustainable community development.
• Developing strategies to enhance community participation in environmental conservation.
• Investigating the role of gender, age, and education in community development and environmental management.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter One introduces the study, providing background information on the Kakamega Forest and outlining the purpose, scope, limitations, theoretical framework, and research design. Chapter Two delves into the concepts of community development and its interconnectedness with environment management. It examines the context of community development, including the people, institutions, issues, and resources involved. Chapter Three presents a situational analysis of the co-management of the Kakamega Forest, analyzing the community's needs, priorities, and experiences with development projects. It examines projects like the Shamba system, the Kakamega Environmental Education Program, and the Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation, evaluating their impact on the community and their contribution to environmental conservation. Chapter Four explores the incentives for empowering the community, focusing on factors influencing community participation in development projects. It examines the role of voluntary participation, gender, age, education, local governance, and existing development issues and needs.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on community development, environmental management, co-management, Kakamega Forest, Kenya, resource management, participation, empowerment, sustainability, development projects, community needs, and local governance. It examines the role of gender, age, and education in promoting sustainable community development and environmental conservation.

• Grade: A
• Author: Oscar Mmbali (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 51
• Catalog Number: V207591
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656349303
• ISBN (Book): 9783656349655
• Language: English
• Tags: empowering, community, effective, environment, management, case, kakamega, forest, kenya, based, model, voice, marginalized, local, communities