Abstract:
The aim of this paper was to investigate whether or not community forest
association (CFA) get benefits as they conserve dryland forest that is also fully
leased. The study adopted descriptive survey design and was conducted between
the year 2018 December and 2020 January in Kibwezi forest. 139 individuals were
issued with questionnaires (household survey) and 5 officials from forest
department were interviewed. The questionnaires response rate was 96% since 134
questionnaires out 139 were returned. 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 since Chi square results were; χ2 =3.953,
df=3, P=.267. There is no special benefit the Community Forest Association gets
from conservation of Kibwezi forest. There should be incentives for the community
to partner in the management of the leased forests in order to get the desired results
that confer 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
