The Impact Of Population Increase On Forest Conservation In Wajir County North Eastern Province Kenya

ABSTRACT

This research report set out to investigate the impact of population increase towards forest conser\ ation in ~\ajir county. North Eastern province of Kenya. Its main objectives were to find out the causes of population increase; to identify the effects of population increase to forests; to explore the population control measures within the nearby communities and to suggest suitable

solutions to the problem of population increase and forest conservation.

The research study will be descriptive and qualitative in nature hence both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods will be used to gain an in depth understanding to find out the causes of population increase, identify the effects of population increase to forests, explore the population control measures within the nearby communities and suggest suitable forest

cOflSCr\at ion strategies put in place amidst population increase. The sample of 115 respondents uill he considered and the research will be gender sensitive.

The above discussion suggests that fertility and increase in population may be jointly determined, and that there is a need to separate these effects in order to identify the “causal” cffeets of lhmily site on increase in population which leads to encroachment into the forest. A[Ier an analysis was done the study came up with the following recommendations; to strengthen efforts in forest conservation and the sustainable management of forest resources, it is imperative to ensure the participation of local community and that all national policy and strategies must indicate the forest area set aside for forest conservation and in the sustainable production of forest goods and services. in further ensure sustainable forest conservation and sustainable forest management, the prices of’ timber and timber products at the market place must fully reflect both their replacement and cm ironmental costs. and that trade in forest products should be nomdiscriminatory and any unilateral measures to restrict and/or ban their trade should be removed or avoided.

Enhancement of forest cover is to be viewed as a proactive measure taken to arrest and reverse the current trend of forest decline and degradation.

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION .11

/~_PPROVPA%1., iii

DEDICATION.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .v

LIST OF ACRONYMS Vi

I A131 .E 01: CONTENT VU

A]3STRACI’

CIIAPThR ONE 1

1 lIE PROBTEM AND iTS SCOPE 1

1.1 Introduction and background of the study 1

12 Statement ofthe problem 3

1.3 Objectives of the study 5

I .3.1 General objective 5

1.32 Spceiie Objectives S

1.4 Research questions S

1.5 Scopeofthe study 6

1.5.1 Geographical scope 6

l.5.2Timescope 6

1.5.3 Content 6

1.6 Definition of key terms 6

1.7 Significance of the study 7

VII

ChAPTER 1W0 .8

LITERATURE REVIEW .8

2.0 Introduction 8

2. 1 The causes of population increase/grow~h 8

2.2 Effects of population increase to forests 11

2.3 Population control measures in the communities 14

2.4 Suitable rorest conservation strategies amidst population increase 16

CIIAPTER FIIREE 19

ME’lIIODOLOGY 19

3.0 Introduction 19

3.1 Research design 19

3.2 Description of the study area 19

3.3 Study population 20

3.4 Sampling strategies 20

3.4.1 Sample pro ceclure 20

3.4.2 Sample sue 20

3.5 )ata Collection \4ethods 20

3.5.1 Data Collection instruments 21

3.6 Data analysis techniques 21

3.7 Anticipated Limitations of the study 21

CHAPTER FOUR 23

PRESENTATION. INTERPRETATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS 23

4.1 Introduction 23