The introduction of Participatory Forestry Management (PFM) in Kenya from 1997 has led to the formation of community-based organizations which have come to be referred to as Community Forest Associations (CFAs). Most of the CFAs are preparing to enter into forest management agreements with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). This will confer management roles to the community with the KFS retaining the forest resource ownership right and the right to withdraw the agreement in total or part. The CFAs are formed by individual members who join by paying a prescribed membership fee. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in data collection, analysis and presentation. Oral interviews with 221 members of the CFA and observation were used in data collection. Data analysis was done in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Study findings were presented as tables, charts and in text form. In addition, multiple regression analysis, which was inferential procedure, was done. The findings showed that participatory forest management in Ol Bolossat forest has significant impacts on the livelihoods of adjacent communities. Main challenges to PFM were lack of technical knowledge and information, poor management and voluntary work not being popular. The community, therefore, required training and capacity building on development, processing technologies, value addition and marketing of Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) among others.
| Published in | Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 14, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11 |
| Page(s) | 83-90 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Challenges in PFM, Opportunities in PFM, Forest Degradation, Forest Restoration, Forest Conservation, Kenya
| [1] | Chowdhury, I. R. 2023. Centralized versus Decentralized Control of Forest Use in a Federal Structure with Elite Capture International Game Theory Review 25(3), 2340003 (2023). |
| [2] | Dawson, N. M., Coolsaet B., Sterling E. J., Loveridge R., Gross-Camp N. D., Wongbusarakum S., et al. 2021. The role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in effective and equitable conservation. Ecology and Society 26(3), 19. (2021). |
| [3] | Wei, S., Xiang Y. and Li Z. 2024. Journal of Selvicoltura Asean 1(4), 187-197 (2024). |
| [4] | Masuda, H., Kawakubo S., Okitasari M. and Morita K. 2022. Balancing Conservation and Development: A Policy Framework for Sustainable Forest Management. Sustainable Cities and Society 82, 103883 (2022). |
| [5] | Inoue, M. 2000. in Rainforest ecosystems of East Kalimantan: El Niño, drought, fire and human impacts (Springer, 2000), pp. 299-307. |
| [6] | Pulhin, J. M., Ramirez M. A. M., Garcia J. E., Pangilinan M. J. Q., Evaristo M. B. S., Catudio M. L. R. O., et al. 2024. Contextualizing sustainable forest management and social justice in community-based forest management (CBFM) program in the Philippines. Trees, Forests and People 16, 100589 (2024). |
| [7] | Wily, L. A., presented at the second international workshop on participatory forestry in Africa. Defining the way forward: sustainable livelihoods and sustainable forest management through participatory forestry, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 2002 (unpublished). |
| [8] | Greeff, A. 2024. A participative management approach for the improvement of a safety culture in the forestry industry. North-West University (South Africa), 2024. |
| [9] | Juma, C. 2024. Community perceived effects of participatory forest management on local livelihoods. American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations 4(09), 7-13 (2024). |
| [10] | Colfer, C. J. P., Prabhu R. and Larson A. M. 2022. Adaptive collaborative management in forest landscapes: Villagers, bureaucrats and civil society. (Taylor & Francis). |
| [11] | Mutune, J. M. and Lund J. F. 2016. Unpacking the impacts of ‘participatory’forestry policies: evidence from Kenya. Forest Policy and Economics 69, 45-52(2016). |
| [12] | Tambe, S. 2022. Sustainable livelihoods approach. In Teaching and learning rural livelihoods: A guide for educators, students, and practitioners (pp. 45-56). Cham: Springer International Publishing. |
| [13] | Molnar, A., Liddle, M., Bracer, C., Khare, A., White, A. and Bull, J. 2007. Community-based forest enterprises in tropical forest countries: status and potential. RRI, Washington DC. |
| [14] | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2019. Nairobi: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2019). |
| [15] | Mishra, S. B. and Alok S. 2022. Handbook of research methodology. (Educreation publishing. |
| [16] | Viechtbauer, W., Smits, L., Kotz, D., Budé, L., Spigt, M., Serroyen, J., & Crutzen, R. 2015. A simple formula for the calculation of sample size in pilot studies. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 68(11), 1375-1379 (2015). |
| [17] | Adebayo, W. G. 2025. Resilience in the face of ecological challenges: Strategies for integrating environmental considerations into social policy planning in Africa. Sustainable Development 33(1), 203-220 (2025). |
| [18] | Odera, J., 2015. Lessons Learnt on Community Forest Management in Africa (unpublished). |
| [19] | Koech, C., Ongugo P., Mbuvi M. and Maua J. 2009. Community Forest Associations in Kenya: challenges and opportunities. Kenya Forestry Research Institute (2009). |
| [20] | Acheampong, E., Agyeman K. and Amponsah O. 2018. The motivation for community participation in forest management: the case of Sefwi-Wiawso forest district, Ghana. International Forestry Review 20(1), 1-17 (2018). |
| [21] | Coulibaly-Lingani, P., Savadogo P., Tigabu M. and Oden P. C. 2011. Decentralization and community forest management in Burkina Faso: Constraints and challenges. International Forestry Review 13(4), 476-486 (2011). |
| [22] | Mushangai, D. 2023. Systemic challenges hindering the flow of sustainable forestry knowledge among smallholder farmers in South Africa. African Journal of Agricultural Research 19(3), 308-320 (2023). |
| [23] | Ameyaw, J., Arts B. and Wals A. 2016. Challenges to responsible forest governance in Ghana and its implications for professional education. Forest Policy and Economics 62, 78-87 (2016). |
| [24] | Zulu, L. C. 2008. Community forest management in southern Malawi: solution or part of the problem?. Society and Natural resources 21(8), 687-703 (2008). |
| [25] | Yami, M. and Mekuria W. 2022. Challenges in the governance of community-managed forests in Ethiopia. Sustainability 14(3), 1478 (2022). |
| [26] | Piabuo, S. M. 2022. Community forest enterprises in Cameroon: Tensions, paradoxes and governance challenges. Environmental Development 44, 100762 (2022). |
| [27] | Turyahabwe, N., Agea J. G., Tweheyo M. and Tumwebaze S. B. 2012. Collaborative Forest Management in Uganda: Benefits, Implementation Challenges. Sustainable Forest Management: Case Studies, 51 (2012). |
| [28] | Kagombe, J. K. and Gitonga J. 2005. The Shamba system case study. Kenya Forests Working Group, Nairobi, Kenya (2005). |
| [29] | Roseland, M. 2000. Sustainable community development: integrating environmental, economic, and social objectives. Progress in planning 54(2), 73-132 (2000). |
APA Style
Kinyili, B. M. (2025). Challenges and Opportunities in Participatory Forest Management Within Ol Bolossat Forest, Kenya. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 14(3), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11
ACS Style
Kinyili, B. M. Challenges and Opportunities in Participatory Forest Management Within Ol Bolossat Forest, Kenya. Agric. For. Fish. 2025, 14(3), 83-90. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11,
author = {Benjamin Mutuku Kinyili},
title = {Challenges and Opportunities in Participatory Forest Management Within Ol Bolossat Forest, Kenya
},
journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {83-90},
doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20251403.11},
abstract = {The introduction of Participatory Forestry Management (PFM) in Kenya from 1997 has led to the formation of community-based organizations which have come to be referred to as Community Forest Associations (CFAs). Most of the CFAs are preparing to enter into forest management agreements with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). This will confer management roles to the community with the KFS retaining the forest resource ownership right and the right to withdraw the agreement in total or part. The CFAs are formed by individual members who join by paying a prescribed membership fee. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in data collection, analysis and presentation. Oral interviews with 221 members of the CFA and observation were used in data collection. Data analysis was done in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Study findings were presented as tables, charts and in text form. In addition, multiple regression analysis, which was inferential procedure, was done. The findings showed that participatory forest management in Ol Bolossat forest has significant impacts on the livelihoods of adjacent communities. Main challenges to PFM were lack of technical knowledge and information, poor management and voluntary work not being popular. The community, therefore, required training and capacity building on development, processing technologies, value addition and marketing of Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) among others.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Challenges and Opportunities in Participatory Forest Management Within Ol Bolossat Forest, Kenya AU - Benjamin Mutuku Kinyili Y1 - 2025/05/14 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11 DO - 10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11 T2 - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries JF - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries JO - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries SP - 83 EP - 90 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-5648 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20251403.11 AB - The introduction of Participatory Forestry Management (PFM) in Kenya from 1997 has led to the formation of community-based organizations which have come to be referred to as Community Forest Associations (CFAs). Most of the CFAs are preparing to enter into forest management agreements with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). This will confer management roles to the community with the KFS retaining the forest resource ownership right and the right to withdraw the agreement in total or part. The CFAs are formed by individual members who join by paying a prescribed membership fee. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in data collection, analysis and presentation. Oral interviews with 221 members of the CFA and observation were used in data collection. Data analysis was done in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Study findings were presented as tables, charts and in text form. In addition, multiple regression analysis, which was inferential procedure, was done. The findings showed that participatory forest management in Ol Bolossat forest has significant impacts on the livelihoods of adjacent communities. Main challenges to PFM were lack of technical knowledge and information, poor management and voluntary work not being popular. The community, therefore, required training and capacity building on development, processing technologies, value addition and marketing of Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) among others. VL - 14 IS - 3 ER -
Kenya Forest Service, Nairobi, Kenya
