An ecosystem service perspective on benefits that people derive from biodiversity of coastal forests in Lamu County, Kenya
2018
Mbeyu L , De Leeuw J , Koech G , Nyongesa J
Natural resources provide a foundation for economic development today. However, global biodiversity is under threat due to among other things, increasing population over the years leading to an increased demand for natural goods and services such as fuel, timber, and medicine. High demand for natural resources has led to increased degradation of ecosystems thereby threatening the sustainability of ecosystem services. Involvement of people living in the vicinity of such ecosystems in conservation activities becomes integral ensuring that the resources are not only well utilized but also properly managed.In this report we test two assumptions; one, that people living in the vicinity of Witu and Boni Dodori forests derive their food, energy, medicine and construction material from these forests, and second, that since they benefit from the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity from the forest, they then have the self-interest to secure the benefits that they derive from biodiversity and participate in preventing forest destruction and degradation.Next, we investigated the second assumption that people living closer to natural forest ecosystems would be more inclined to conserve the biodiversity that they depend on.
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