PFM Impacts on Forest and Poverty Status of the Loita Maasai

Tradional Community based forest management has been praised as a good management approach by many stakeholders. It facilitates better forest management and improved livelihoods of the community with the framework of equity and pro poor principles. In Kenya any form of foresr management that involves communities has been formally been referred to as Participatory Forest Management (PFM). This booklet provides a synopsis of The Impact of Participatory Forest Management on Forest Management and Community Livelihoods under Traditional Community Based Forest Management for Loita (Naimina-Enkiyio) Forests, Narok County, Kenya. The forest is unique in the country as it has remained intact while other forests which have been under government management were being degraded. The communities have exhibited resilience; enviable capacity to have the forest remain under their control; provided opportunities for all to access benefits at no direct cost and they members contribute for social and public development and to forest management as a community. The communities have resisted attempts to sub divide the land as they belief that this shall be the start of the forests degradation