Establishing Forest Resources and Resource Users’ Boundaries: Policy Briefs Based on Kenyan Case Studies
Felix Lamech Mogambi Ming’ate,
Musingo Tito Edward Mbuvi,
Nahama Eric Tetea
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
118-121
Received:
29 July 2022
Accepted:
16 August 2022
Published:
29 September 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijepp.20221005.11
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Abstract: This policy briefs informs the decision makers on how to establish clear forest and community management units for access and management of forest resources for enhanced community livelihoods and improved forest management. It presents key findings on guidelines for forming partnerships and for establishment of forest resource and resource users’ boundaries. The key to making informed decisions regarding forest governance requires understanding the resource use and users’ boundaries that would increase forest resources and community livelihoods. The formulation of this policy briefs is based on the resource use and resource users’ boundaries for implementing participatory forest management in Keraite; Nyamweru, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kakamega, Loita, and upper Imenti which have been in place for over two decades, even though forest governance still remains a challenge. All the respondents for writing the policy briefs were purposefully sampled from each category of interviewees namely: leaders from different user groups, key informants from different government organizations and NGOs. To collect data semi-structured interviews were used to all the respondents. A total of 47 respondents purposefully selected were involved in the interviews. Drawing from these forests as case studies, this policy briefs proposes the embraced policies by communities in the establishment of forest resource use and users’ boundaries. The study comes into conclusion that forest resources and resource users’ boundaries are needed for effective community forest management through highlighting the policy briefs based on six key areas: gathering relevant information, tools that can facilitate formation of partnerships, engaging different stakeholders, facilitating local communities to organize, preparing for negotiations and how the households and the individuals negotiating establish agreements.
Abstract: This policy briefs informs the decision makers on how to establish clear forest and community management units for access and management of forest resources for enhanced community livelihoods and improved forest management. It presents key findings on guidelines for forming partnerships and for establishment of forest resource and resource users’ b...
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Evaluation of Sewage Treatment Efficiency of a Two-Stage Floating-Wetland System
George Kirumba,
George Thumbi,
John Mwangi,
John Mbugua
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
122-129
Received:
20 September 2022
Accepted:
19 October 2022
Published:
29 October 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijepp.20221005.12
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Abstract: Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTW) is a novel technology in wastewater treatment where emergent macrophytes are supported by a floating mat on the water surface. A small-scale two-stage FTW was designed and commissioned in April 2019 to treat sewage influent of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP), Ruiru, Kenya. The study evaluated the system’s sewage treatment efficiency over a 6-month period (May-October 2019). The system operating under a constant inflow rate of 1.75m3/day was operated under aerobic (1st stage) and anoxic conditions (2nd stage). Highest mean monthly influent concentrations of 61.8mg/L, 544mg/L, 681mg/L, 72mg/L, 22.5mg/L and 0.12 mg/L were recorded for Total Phosphorus (TP), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite respectively. Sedimentation, nitrification-denitrification, aerobic bacterial breakdown of organic matter, nutrients uptake by plants, entrapment of suspended solids by plant roots and adsorption onto filter media were responsible for wastewater treatment. Optimum treatment efficiencies of 69.9%, 84.3%, 94%, 80.1%, 91% and 80.3% for TP, COD, TSS, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were recorded in August 2019. During this period, effluent TSS (27mg/L), ammonia (8mg/L), nitrate (0.6mg/L) and nitrite (0.012mg/L) concentrations conformed to NEMA’s effluent guideline values. However, COD and TP concentrations of 85 mg/L and 11.6 mg/L respectively observed over the period failed to meet the local effluent standards. The study recommends further studies to investigate the adsorption capacities of other locally available materials for use as filter media to enhance organic matter and phosphorus removal. Based on the significant results reported, large-scale implementation of the technology in the WSP would realize a higher quality effluent.
Abstract: Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTW) is a novel technology in wastewater treatment where emergent macrophytes are supported by a floating mat on the water surface. A small-scale two-stage FTW was designed and commissioned in April 2019 to treat sewage influent of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP), Ruiru, Kenya. The study evaluated the syst...
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Assessment of Spatial Soil Erosion Using RUSLE Model Integration with GIS and RS Tools a Case Study of Gojeb Catchment, Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
130-139
Received:
17 August 2022
Accepted:
25 October 2022
Published:
31 October 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijepp.20221005.13
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Abstract: Soil erosion is a natural process in which earth materials are entrained and transported across a given surface mainly by wind and water. Gojeb catchment is one of the catchments found in the Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia with soil erosion problems. It covers 6932.345 km2. The current study was undertaken with the application of RUSLE and Geographic information system (GIS) to estimate the soil erosion of Gojeb catchment and identifications of the most affected area based on severity level. To determine the parameters of RUSLE, rainfall, soil map, Landuse Landcover, Digital elevation model data’s of Gojeb catchment was collected from different sources. The rainfall Erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topographic (LS), land cover (C), land management (P) were combined in Arc GIS environment using RUSLE. Annual soil loss of the catchment was determined by combining all the important parameters of RUSLE. The estimated annual soil loss value in the watershed varies from 0 to 85 ton/ha/yr, with an average value of 38 ton/ha/yr. The spatial soil erosion severity of the watershed was grouped into six classes low severity class covers 31.425%, moderate severity class covers 12.5%, high severity class covers 16.75%, very high severity class covers 7.63% sever severity class covers 11.4% and very sever severity class cover 20.3% of the area depending on soil loss hazards. In Gojeb catchment concerning stakeholders, for the different districts, which have exposed to very high to extreme sever loss classes given immediate priorities to proper conservation and mitigating measures.
Abstract: Soil erosion is a natural process in which earth materials are entrained and transported across a given surface mainly by wind and water. Gojeb catchment is one of the catchments found in the Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia with soil erosion problems. It covers 6932.345 km2. The current study was undertaken with the application of RUSLE and Geographic inf...
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