Effects of Leasehold on Community Forest Association Benefits in Dryland Resources Management: A Case Study of Kibwezi Forest in Kenya

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this paper was to investigate whether community forest association (CFA) get benefits as they conserve dryland forest that is also fully leased. Study Design: The paper adapted descriptive survey design. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between the year 2018 December and 2020 January in Kibwezi forest. Methodology: This study included 139 individuals who were issued with questionnaires (household survey) and 5 officials from forest department who were interviewed.  Results: The questionnaires response rate was 96% since 134 questionnaires out 139 were returned. The introduction of leasehold significantly reduced benefits community forest association used to get. There is no significant association between being a member of Community Forest Association and getting employment in dryland forest conservation sinceChi square results were; ?2  =3.953, df=3, P=.267. Conclusion: There is no special benefit the Community Forest Association gets from conservation of Kibwezi forest. For community to participate in forest management that have been leased there should be incentives. In fully leased forest, community forest members should jointly work with Kenya Forest Service as per the Participatory Forest Management. To get desired results of community forest participation in dryland, different actors should come up with innovative ways of conferring benefits to the Community Forest Association and compel the lessee to adhere to the legal requirement of continued access of benefits to the communities as it was before the lease.