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MeetingClimate Change Impacts on Transport Infrastructure in Agrarian Communities and Policy Implications for Agricultural Trade and Food Security in Nigeria 2017
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No Thumbnail AvailableBook (stand-alone)Dairy imports into Sub-Saharan Africa: Problems, policies and prospects 1989
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ArticleImplications of livestock grazing on sustainable management of montane forests: a case of south west Mau forest, Kenya
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.Overgrazing is an emerging concern in Kenya’s indigenous forests. It affects regeneration, species structure and composition and soil. However, information on permissible grazing threshold and effects of overgrazing on forest ecosystem has not been adequately established in Kenya. This study was undertaken in South West Mau; the largest block forming Kenya’s biggest water tower, Mau Complex. Grazing is the main driver of degradation in the forest. The objectives of the study were to determine; dependence of forest adjacent communities on forest for grazing, effects of grazing on forest structure and composition, permissible forage off-take levels and ecologically sustainable carrying capacity. Data and information was collected through household surveys, Focus Group Discussions, vegetation assessment under varied grazing intensities (heavy, moderate and light), estimation of primary forage productivity, livestock census and computation of carrying capacity. The study found that 96% of the households grazed their livestock in the forest throughout the year. Although the forest generally showed natural regeneration as exhibited by reversed exponential curve, there was no regeneration in heavily grazed areas. Further, significant variation existed in species diversity, stand density and basal area across the grazing intensity levels. Physical count survey estimated a total 17,263 livestock (14,804 ±396 cattle, 2,365 sheep, 44 goats and 50 donkeys) grazed in the forest daily. The available forage was estimated at 14 million Kg DM/ year. This forage can support 6,104 Tropical Livestock Units (TLUs) throughout the year. Currently, the forest supports 10,629 TLUs, hence grazing threshold has been exceeded by 74%. There is need therefore, to maintain sustainable grazing threshold that would ensure forest regeneration and adequate forage availability. The study will inform grazing policies in Kenya for sustained forest management. Keywords: Deforestation and forest degradation; Biodiversity conservation; Climate change; Governance; Sustainable forest management ID: 3487126
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