Reconciling Community Livelihood Needs and Biodiversity Conservation in Taita Hills Forests for Improved Livelihoods and Transformational Management of the Landscape.

Abstract

The fragmented forests of Taita Hills form an exceptional multi- functional socio-ecological production landscape with outstanding diversity of

flora and fauna that provide ecosystem goods and services supporting human wellbeing and livelihood systems. However, these forests are threatened by illegal logging for wood products and encroachment for crop farming. A study was conducted in villages surrounding five forest fragments to establish the conservation programmes responsible for keeping these forests intact for provision of goods and services to the local communities. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to

collect data from 250 respondents in 25 villages surrounding the five forest frag- ments. Twenty-five focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with key informants

actively involved in conservation activities. Results showed that the Taita commu- nity conserves the forest fragments through management practices that integrate

livelihood needs in conservation, such as butterfly farming, bee-keeping and eco- tourism. Additionally, community tree nurseries have been established to produce

seedlings for restoring degraded areas, and agroforestry belts have been established on the forests’ edges to provide wood products and protect the forests from

encroachment. Likewise, village committees have been established to oversee con- servation activities inside the village jurisdictional area. The integrated conservation

and livelihood approach has reduced forest destruction, enhanced landscape con- nectivity for biodiversity conservation, increased incomes, enhanced capacity of the

community to adapt to climate change, improved food security, enhanced carbon storage, strengthened traditional knowledge and practices, and ensured availability of clean water for the local population.