Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards ban on Livestock Grazing in the Mount Kenya West Protected Forest, Kenya

Abstract

Participatory Forest Management (PFM) ensures that protected forests meet local development needs, especially supporting the rural poor without compromising the long-term persistence of forests. This requires data on perceptions and attitudes towards forest protection strategies, alternative livelihoods and implications on coping with restrictions implemented towards forest recovery. This research conducted in Mount Kenya West protected forests, analyzed smallholder farmers’ perceptions towards a forest ban on livestock grazing, and further examined coping mechanisms in response to forest bans. Interviews with a sample of 234 smallholder farmers in Chehe, Hombe and Kahurura forest blocks were conducted and data was transcribed then translated into English. Both deductive and inductive coding were used for analysis. Five themes emerged, with the most frequently mentioned theme as the reduction on land available for livestock keeping. Others included reduced family cash flows, disruptions of income for paying fees for children, coping strategies and seeking alternative sources of pasture without reducing cattle numbers. Coping strategies highlighted two segments of the population; those who had the ability to cope with restrictions to forest access for livestock grazing and those who would be vulnerable to such policy actions. Sustainability of livelihoods is thus a major consideration in any intervention measures.