Forest Conservation in Kenya: Lessons from the African Traditional/Indigenous Education

Abstract

Forest conservation is a critical issue in the world to-day. This is because forests are covers, shields and insulators of the mother earth.  In effect, they are determinants of life. They are the basis of world climatic conditions; sources of fuel, water and food, and instrumental in maintaining soil texture and fertility that are essential for agricultural activities.  Hence: the need to conserve forests for posterity.

The present efforts to conserve forests seem not to be effective at all.  These efforts are undermined by population increase that has exerted pressure on land use, mismanagement of land use and inappropriate education systems in practice.  The consequence has been deforestation rather than conservation of forests. Therefore, there is increasing need to seek alternative approaches of conserving forests in Kenya.  One of these approaches is to turn to African Traditional/Indigenous education that has important lessons of conserving forests from which the modern societies can learn. The nature, scope and the administration of this type of education has important information, and principles and practices that can be applied to forest conservation.  This type of education was universal, well integrated, utilitarian and preserving in nature.  These features are major requirements for forest conservation to-day.

This paper attempts to examine the lessons modern society can learn from this form of education to manage forests in Kenya.  These may provide a solution to the rapidly disappearing forest cover in the country that is threatening to cause serious political, social and economic woes.

Key Words : Forest Conservation, Traditional Indigenous education, Alternative Approaches