TO CONSERVE OR NOT TO CONSERVE: A CASE STUDY OF FOREST VALUATION IN KENYA

• Published in: Journal of tropical forest science 2010-01, Vol.22 (1), p.5-12
• Main Authors: Langat, D, Cheboiwo, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Commercial forests; Economic value; Forest appraisal; Forest conservation; Forest resources; Forest soils; Forestry policy; Forestry research; Sustainable forest management; Tropical rain forests
• ISSN: 0128-1283; 2521-9847

Tindiret natural forest is one of the scattered forests which form the extensive Mau forest complex in Kenya. It is an important hydrological system for Lake Victoria. To provide strong arguments for more government investment in indigenous forest conservation, quality information and data on forest values need to be available for decision makers. There is, however, little information on economic values of most forests in Kenya. This study was aimed at estimating the total economic value of Tindiret forest. To estimate direct use values by the communities adjacent to the forest, household surveys were conducted with 109 households sampled from three villages within 5 km of the forest. Further information was obtained from discussions with key informants. The methods employed were market-based valuation techniques, market valuation of physical effects (MVPE) and use of secondary data and benefit transfer approach. The study established that the annual direct use value by local forest-adjacent households was approximately Kshs45 mil. The non-use values were estimated at Kshs113 mil per year and the opportunity cost of conserving the Tindiret natural forest was estimated at Kshs237 mil. Current benefits from Tindiret forest are inadequate to offset the opportunity cost of leaving the forest in its present state. The government and the local communities are subsidising the retention of the forest and this subsidy was estimated at Kshs78.5 mil per year through lost opportunity in agricultural settlement and income. Hutan semula jadi Tindiret merupakan satu daripada hutan yang membentuk kompleks hutan Mau yang begitu luas di Kenya. Ia merupakan sistem hidrologi yang penting bagi Tasik Victoria. Bagi menyediakan hujah yang kukuh untuk menggalakkan lebih banyak pelaburan kerajaan dalam pemuliharaan hutan asli, maklumat serta data berkualiti tentang nilai hutan perlu disediakan untuk pembuat keputusan. Malangnya hanya terdapat sedikit maklumat tentang nilai ekonomi kebanyakan hutan di Kenya. Kajian ini bertujuan menganggarkan jumlah nilai ekonomi hutan Tindiret. Bagi menganggar nilai guna langsung oleh komuniti yang menetap di sempadan hutan, kami menjalankan satu tinjauan terhadap 109 keluarga di tiga kampung yang terletak dalam lingkungan 5 km dari hutan. Maklumat tambahan diperoleh daripada perbincangan dengan pemberi maklumat utama. Kaedah yang digunakan ialah teknik penilaian berasaskan pasaran, penilaian pasaran kesan fizikal (MVPE) dan penggunaan data sekund