Influence of Forest Plantation Establishment Schemes on Community Livelihoods: A Case of Makutano Forest Kericho County, Kenya

Exploitation of forest resources has been a thorny issue to many countries. In efforts to restore degraded forests, countries have resulted to establishing forest plantations. There is also need to sustain livelihoods of these populations living around forests. Kenya on its part, adopted Plantation Establishment and livelihoods Improvement scheme (PELIS) program as part of participatory Forest management (PFM). PELIS involves the planting of food crops together with tree seedlings. It is however not clear whether balance has been strike between attaining forest cover and improving community livelihoods as was the intent of the program. Consequently, this study sought to shed light on this issue by looking at the influence of forest plantation on community livelihoods.

This study adopted the decentralized forest management theory. Cross-sectional research design was adopted. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in data collection and analysis. The target population was 1719 which included forest adjacent community (FAC) members, and community based organization (CBO) leaders. From this a sample of 212 was selected. Systematic sampling was used in selecting the households and snowball sampling in selecting the CBO leaders involved in two tire focused group discussion. Questionnaire schedules were prepared to be used among household members.

The findings indicated a significant influence of PELIS on community livelihood (f = 221.642, P=0.000). Those near the forest registered to have derived more economic benefits than those far away from the forest (f= 3.127, P= 0.000). A strong relationship between the frequency of attending CFA and CBO meetings, the level of involvement in decision making and planning of forest activities (B = 3.479, P< 0.05) was noted. The size of land available for cultivation was found to be statistically significant to food security among the community (f= 221.642, P= 0.000). The most important and most utilized forest products were firewood at 95%, fodder at 71% and droppers from tree pruning at 68%. Further research is needed on how more benefits from products like herbs, wild vegetables and honey cold be realized.