Forest Based Enterprises for Livelihoods Improvement in Participatory Forest Management within Ol Bolossat Forest, Kenya

Forest resources are faced with challenges that range from mismanagement, overutilization, conflicts and competing claims. Consequently, this has given rise to legislation and policy to protect forests. However, many governments in developing countries have difficulties in implementing sustainable forest management (SFM). One of the strategies advocated to foster SFM is participatory forest management (PFM). The PFM approach has been practiced formally in Kenya since 2005. The aim of this study was to assess Forest Based Enterprises for Livelihoods Improvement in Participatory Forest Management within Ol Bolossat Forest. Semi-structured interviews with key informants were used in data collection. The activities in Ol Bolossat forest PFM which was widely practiced and registered more members was commercial tree growing business enterprises, Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Scheme (PELIS) cultivation projects, beekeeping, fish farming, tree nursery production and ecotourism which was done through camping. Other projects conducted in much smaller scale were medicinal plant extraction, briquette making, moringa tree project, mushroom farming and biogas production. The study established that there was a capacity building programmes on intensive commercial farm forestry, extension and advisory service, training the forest adjacent communities in commercial tree growing on farm, as well as Training on agronomy of non-wood products as well as training on raising seedlings. These initiatives have spurred economic, social and environment development of the area through improved sale of quality honey and provision of forest products like poles, firewood and timber.