Ecosystem services values for local people in participatory forestry context: The case of karura urban forest reserve

While green urban infrastructure has been widely successful in the global North to ease the pressure from rapid urbanization, developing economies in the global South are also embracing sustainable urban planning by integrating forest management approaches that prioritize ecological benefits of urban forests. Karura Forest Reserve (KFR) in Kenya is an important urban forest ecosystem that provides multiple benefits to the residents of Nairobi city. Our research addresses a significant gap in the literature by exploring the benefits provided by KFR to the local community. The aim is to evaluate the ecosystem services provided by KFR to the local people, with the objectives (i) to estimate the direct and indirect benefits of employment for Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (FKF-CFA) members, (ii) to evaluate the effect of periodic deadwood removal by the Huruma community-based organizations (CBOs), and (iii) to provide a holistic economic perspective based on total revenue from entrance fees. We used survey methods to collect primary data by applying mixed format questionnaires to FKF-CFA and Huruma CBOs members. The secondary data on visitors’ entry logs were sourced from the FKF-CFA clerk records. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted in R-studio, and a Fisher's exact test to assess the association between perceived benefits of FKF-CFA staff to their livelihoods. The total economic value of benefits derived from KFR was estimated at US$ 526,027 per annum. Direct ES benefits to FKF-CFA members had an estimated annual value of US$ 91,656, monetary valuation of deadwood collection was estimated at US$ 21,957 per annum, and revenue from entrance fees was estimated at US$ 412,414 annually. Our study illustrates also the successes achieved through the integration of participatory forestry on livelihoods and recommends urban forest management models that incorporate the community's perspectives.