Factors influencing household participation in extraction of forest products in mount Kenya forest, Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Forests play a critical role in sustaining rural livelihoods through provision of timber and non-timber forest products for both domestic and commercial use. However, unsustainable extraction of these products threatens the ecological and socio- economic benefits for over two million people who live around the forests, necessitating a deeper understanding of the factors influencing household participation in forest product extraction in Mount Kenya Forest, Nyeri County. This was actualized by testing the null hypothesis that there is no significant relationship between the social, economic, and environmental factors and participation in extraction of forest products based on the theory of tragedy of the commons. The research employed a cross-sectional survey design, utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics. Data was collected from 361 households living within 10 kilometers radius of the forest through structured questionnaires and analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. Findings indicated that 77% of households engaged in forest resource extraction, with 70.91% utilizing products for both domestic and commercial purposes. Firewood collection was the most common activity (36.01%), followed by lumbering and farming. Socioeconomic characteristics such as household size, income levels, education, and occupation of the respondents significantly influenced forest dependency. Additionally, 61.5% of respondents lacked awareness of sustainable harvesting techniques and forest management policies, contributing to unsustainable practices. Encouragingly, 86% of respondents express willingness to participate in conservation initiatives without monetary compensation, indicating strong potential for community-driven conservation strategies. Social, economic, and environmental factors were found to significantly influence participation with household size, income level, and proximity to the forest (p=0.0000<0.05) emerging as key determinants. The model yielded a pseudo R² of 0.8920, indicating strong explanatory power. Education (β = -0.1090, p =0.002< 0.05) and awareness (β = - 0.0479, p =0.000< 0.05) of forest management practices were found to negatively correlate with extraction, suggesting that increased knowledge and awareness reduces dependence. The study concludes that social, economic, and environmental factors significantly influence household participation. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhanced community sensitization on sustainable resource use through extension officers, alternative livelihood programs and employment of sustainable harvesting techniques such as selective and rotational harvesting. Strengthening forest management policies, promoting agroforestry, and increasing access to clean energy alternatives such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and biogas are essential for reducing forest dependence and ensuring sustainable resource use. Additionally, integrating rural households into conservation efforts through Community Forest Associations (CFAs) can enhance sustainable forest management. These strategies can help balance forest conservation with the livelihood needs of forest-adjacent communities. Further research should explore panel data analysis on forest dependence specifically investigating how forest dependence evolves over time, considering economic growth, conservation policies, and population dynamics.