Forest Management Teams, a Citizenship Paradigm Analysis through Influence and Importance Factors; Experience from Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Kenya

Abstract

The multiple uses of forests continue to draw interest from diverse stakeholders. Forest Management Teams model has been used to accommodate the interests of stakeholders and facilitate better forest management and improve community livelihoods through managed citizenship. In Kenya, the model has been practiced the longest in Arabuko Sokoke forest. This paper reviews the 25-year-old Arabuko Sokoke Forest Management Team using the Influence and Importance tool. The assessment demonstrates that Influence and Importance factors affect forest management either positively or negatively, fair and just use of this tool could lead to a team (citizenship) that is perpetually adapting to new tasks and emerging scenarios where local communities and stakeholders are empowered by new rights conferred to them by the partnership. In Arabuko Sokoke forest, the use of Forest Management Team has achieved enviable success in forest management, community livelihoods, organizational development and rural development—which are essential elements for forest citizenship. This paper documents how appropriate application of Influence and Importance tool bounded by external and internal actors can enhance an inclusive and adaptive participatory process.