THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN CONFLICT ESCALATION IN MAU FOREST COMPLEX IN NAROK COUNTY, KENYA
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Date
2024-10
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Tangaza University
Abstract
The Mau Forest Complex is a critical ecosystem as it plays a vital role in providing various ecological benefits, including water regulation, carbon sequestration, and habitat preservation. However, unsustainable practices such as illegal logging, encroachment, and agriculture have resulted in significant degradation. - The Mau Forest Complex is Kenya’s important water tower. Important rivers that flow into Lake Victoria such as River Nile, the longest one in the world originate there. The study aims to establish the role of environmental degradation in conflict escalation in Mau Forest complex in Narok County, using a mixed methods approach of quantitative and qualitative design. The study was guided by for objectives; 1) To Establish the level of Environmental Degradation in the Mau Forest Complex. 2) To Identify the factors contributing to the Conflict escalations in the Mau Forest Complex 3)To establish the relationship between environmental degradation and Conflict Escalation in the Mau Forest Complex and 4) To recommend the necessary measures to mitigate the environmental degradation in Conflict escalation in the Mau Forest Complex in Narok County , Kenya A sample of 134 was drawn from the target population of 65,300 of the seven (7) blocks of the Mau Forest Complex, the Maasai Mau 21, Eastern Mau 14, Western Mau 17, Southern Mau 18, Southwest Mau 13, Trans Mara Region 25, and Mau Narok 26. Qualitative approach used focused group discussion and key informants. The 134 participants were picked through convenience sampling. Quantitative techniques used of questionnaires and data analysis. The clusters, snowball and purposive sampling were also used to select the participants of the study. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 through the descriptive and thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics generated in the form of frequencies and percentages used to summarize quantitative data and was presented in the tables of frequency distribution. The study concluded that there were measures to mitigate the effects of degradation including sustainable environmental practices and conflict reduction.