Reversing land degradation: how one association and its members are protecting a forest

Rural Kenyan communities pave the way for sustainable forest management through good governance, conflict management and sustainable revenue raising. 

Chepalungu forest reserve is located within the Mau forest conservancy in the southwestern highlands of Kenya and represents one of the largest near-continuous blocks of indigenous montane forest in East Africa. 

Chepalungu's rich biodiversity and natural resources provide sustenance and economic opportunities for the surrounding rural communities. Communities in Sotik formed the Chepalungu Apex Community Forest Association (CHEACOFA) in 2008 after observing changes in the forest landscape due to shifting cultivation patterns and increased forest use, along with degradation following unrest in 2007 where forests were burnt as part of wider political protests. 

As CHEACOFA has grown, so has its role in the forest landscape. It is now working alongside the Kenyan Forest Service (KFS) to manage forest landscapes, including collecting revenue for grazing in the forest and supporting forest user groups in sustainably managing forest resources and improving livelihoods. 

Managing forest conflicts 

As an apex Community Forest Association (CFA), CHEACOFA comprises around 16 Community Forest User Groups, ranging from pastoralists, grazers and herbalists to beekeepers, brickmakers, and, more recently, ecotourism operators. In the past, the range of users operating within Chepalungu has led to conflicts among those with competing interests in the forests.

"One of the biggest difficulties was livestock. Animals would often transform the landscape and eat any crops growing in the area," tells Joseph Tovert, chairman of CHEACOFA, "Often, this would lead to fighting between the user groups."

To overcome this, CHEACOFA trained 40 CFUG members on leadership, governance, and conflict management.

"We now have mechanisms in place to manage conflicts. Every user group has a committee, so whenever a problem arises, the committees can meet and work together to resolve it."

Generating financial sustainability 

Income is important to ensure the long-term sustainability of grassroots organizations like CHEACOFA. To this end, the Forest and Farm Facility supported CHEACOFA  and its members to participate in the revision of participatory forest management plans and signing forest management agreements with Kenya Forest Service, allowing access and user rights to forest resources. As a result, CHEACOFA now obtains 10 percent of the user fees collected. 

This revenue is used to pay the salaries of six forest scouts who conduct surveillance work within Chepalungu. The presence of scouts is important in managing forest conflicts, as they can offer an independent assessment of activities taking place in the forest. The scouts are also integral in raising community awareness on key conservation issues. 

Improved financial stability also funds schools, drinking water, maize investment, and crop cultivation on degraded land before undertaking reforestation activities. seph describes this arrangement, "We allow farmers to cultivate the land designated for afforestation for around two to three years, encouraging them to plant trees as they plough. Then they move to another site. It provides a good opportunity for farmer food security while caring for trees". 

To date, the community has planted 90 000 trees, and the active involvement of communities has increased community ownership of the forest and support for sustainable forest management practices. 

The future of community forest management 

The partnership between FFF and CHEACOFA is continuing. CHEACOFA's future is bright as it continues collaborating with stakeholders to achieve its mission of reversing forest degradation, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for its members.

The association is also receiving support from international donors, including the World Wildlife Fund and the United States Forest Service, to continue forest management and reforestation activities in Chepaulungu. It is cementing its role as a leader in community forest management in Kenya. 

"We are continually evolving and gaining a deeper understanding of our mandate of supporting community-based forest management. I hope people will witness our positive impacts and allow us to continue our work long into the future", concluded Joseph.