The role of forest resource and resource users' boundaries in improving the livelihood of forest adjacent communities has been of great concern in current literature. Studies have shown that there is likelihood that forest adjacent communities can draw significant benefits from the forest resource use and users' boundaries. But is not clear the extent to which this can happen. Thus this study focuses on examining the role of forest resource and resource users' boundaries in improving the livelihood of forest adjacent communities in Kenya using the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve as a case study.To fill this gap the study used a sample size of 220 households, including 100 households participating in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest management arrangement, 90 non-participating households in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest management arrangement and 30 key informants. It then used both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data collection involved administering semi-structured questionnaires to the participating and non-participating forest management households and key informants, while the secondary data involved a review of relevant and reliable materials on forest resource management, browsing from both internet sources as well as from books, daily newspapers, and published articles. Data analysis was done through coding responses from the different interview categories namely the participating and non-participating households and key informants and grouping them into similar themes in order to answer the study objectives. It is concluded in the study that successful governance of Common Pool Resources requires well established forest resource use and users' boundaries, and that well established boundaries for resource use and resource users' can improve community livelihood. It is recommended that, governments should develop forest resource use and users' boundaries to enhance forest conservation and improved livelihoods of forest dependent households.
Many natural resource management studies have researched on participatory forest management of forests. But current literature indicates that studies on the formation of participatory forest management boundaries for governance of forests are scanty. Thus this paper uses Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve as a case study to examine the extent to which its forest resource and resource users’ boundaries are developed by utilizing a qualitative approach for data collection. The researchers purposively sampled 100 respondents from communities involved in participatory forest management and 90 non-participating communities in the participatory forest management arrangement. Also 30 key informants from heads of government agencies such as Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museum of Kenya, Non-Governmental Organizations such as Nature Kenya, Community Based Organizations and leaders from the business community working in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Management were utilized in the study. The analysis of qualitative data from written notes and audio recordings was coded into similar themes and used to answer the study objective. The results show that both participating and non-participating communities in the participatory forest arrangement are aware of the forest resource and resource users’ boundaries. It is concluded that boundaries are essential in governance of forest resource and users’ boundaries. It is recommended that policy makers need to clearly define boundaries for resource use and resource users’ for enhanced conservation of forest resource and improved community livelihoods.
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