Optimizing environmental education and awareness strategies for sustainable forest management in Kenya

Lessons from Cherangany, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, and Kakamega Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

Forests and allied environmental resources are important for environmental and socio-economic development. However, information is scarce on the ways of optimizing the strategies for forestry and environmental education and awareness in many developing countries. Using a literature review and document content analysis, this study explores the case of four forested ecosystems in Kenya with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the strategies to achieve sustainable forest management. Results show that the key ingredients of effective forestry and environmental education are formal education infrastructure, community engagement panels, digital platforms, corporate responsibility initiatives, media, arts, policy advocacy, and research with feedback loops on initiatives. In addition, results indicate that Kenya is desirous of establishing robust mechanisms for effective environmental education and awareness, as demonstrated by policy and legal actions. Case studies of Cherangani, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, and Kakamega forest ecosystems demonstrate these commendable efforts by embedding the ingredients of strategy optimization within their forest ecosystem management plans. However, while there is a general similarity in the approaches across the ecosystems, there is a need to optimize awareness strategies by leveraging the existing educational infrastructure, increasing stakeholder engagement, and addressing outstanding challenges currently inhibiting sustainable forest management in the examined ecosystems.