| dc.description.abstract | Mau forest is considered as one of Kenya‟s most dependent and rich Bio-diversity with an estimated
annual economic value of US$ 1.3Billion (Africa Policy Report, 2010). But the encroachment on, and
untenable exploitation of the Mau ecosystem by the adjacent communities, who encroach the forest for
timber, firewood, water and land, resulted in widespread forest degradation with negative effects on the
Kenyan economy and the livelihood of the population depended on Mau waters, leading to a series of
forced evictions and unending conflicts between the government (forest regulators) and the forest
adjacent communities; the worst being the recent 2009 evictions. The purpose of this study in this case
sought to investigate the factors influencing Resource Conflict in East Mau forest. The specific objectives
of the study was to study the relationship between community participation in forest management, access
to forest resources by the forest adjacent communities, the level of environmental knowledge and
resource benefit sharing to resource conflicts in Mau forest. In order to collect the required data the
population of the study comprised an analysis of secondary data from Mau forest conservation, eviction
reports as provided by the government and the use of a questionnaire that guided a structured interview
for the forest users and regulators. The expected sample size was 90.The Questionnaire was piloted in a
similar environment in Maasai Mau forest Narok County to improve on its validity. The collected data
was coded and analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics namely: frequency
tables. All analysis was done using SPSS. The findings for this research found among other factors
community participation had a lot of influence on forest resource conflict management. Participation
brings on board all other factors of access to resources, correct environmental knowledge and resource
benefit sharing contributing to forest conflicts. This research concludes that for sustainable forest resource
use and management in Mau Forest to be achieved, a more collaborative and participatory dialogue
approach has to be embraced. | en_US |
