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Although community participation is globally recognised as an effective strategy in the management of natural resources, many forest management policies largely fail to recognise the important role that forest adjacent communities can play in forest management. Consequently, conflicts over the use and management of forest resources is common in many government protected forest areas. Using a case of Mt. Elgon forest, Kenya, this book discusses mechanisms through which participation of forest adjacent communities in forest policy formulation can be enhanced in order to promote sustainability of forest management. Local community awareness of forest policies and laws, as well as nature of their participation in forest management are explored. Role of local institutional actors in enhancing community participation is also reviewed. Proactive stakeholders´ partnership is suggested as a vital framework within which specific strategies for enhancing forest adjacent communities´ participation can be implemented and sustained.

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Serah Kiragu, M.Phil - Environmental Studies (2002), studied at Kenyatta and Moi Universities in Kenya. She worked as a Programme Officer with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) overseeing implementation of nature conservation projects in Eastern Africa. Currently, she is undertaking a PhD at University of Bayreuth, Germany.

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