Determinants of Community Participation in Sustainability of Indigenous Forest in Kakamega East Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Community forestry is an approach for mitigating deforestation and forest degradation by managing the forest resources for the benefit of neighboring communities. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of community participation in sustainability of indigenous forests in Kakamega East Sub-County, Kenya. The study used descriptive survey research design and its targeted community youths within a sub location. A sample of 205 respondents which is 10% of the universe was used to collect data and simple random sampling technique used to identify the respondents. Data was collected using questionnaire. The study used Cronbach's alpha Coefficient (0.796) to measure the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential methods of data analysis were used in analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference between groups as determined by one-way ANOVA (F (4,151) = 597.190, p = 0.000). In addition, there was positive and significant influence of project implementation on sustainability of indigenous forest (β= 0.0.684; t = 5.515; p < 0.05). There was positive and significant influence of community empowerment on sustainability of indigenous forest (β= 0.0.111; t = 6.324; p < 0.05). There was also positive and insignificant influence of community decision making on sustainability of indigenous forest (β= -0.051; t = 13.331; p < 0.05). However, there was a negative but insignificant influence of community volunteerism on sustainability of indigenous forest (β= -0.057; t = -.860; p > 0.05) from the regression equation determined as Y = -0.051+0.111X₁-0.057X₂+ 0.269X₃+0.684X₄.  The study findings will significantly inform Government and policy makers' in improving policies that support community participation in forestry conservation to provide ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits for present and future generations.