Relationship between the Availability of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and Distance to the Forest Edge around Kavonge and Museve Hilltop Forests in Kitui, Kenya

Distance to the forest edge in NTFPs collection was one of the key factors affecting the NTFPs availability and consumptions in the study area. This study established the relationship between the availability of NTFPs and the distance to the forest from households in Kitui County. The specific study objective was to establish the relationship between the availability of NTFPs and distance to the forest edge. Datasets were collected by employing structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions to know the types of NTFPs, quantities, and distance of collection from households. These were used to collect primary data from the two selected villages through a purposive sampling method. The Yamane formula was used to choose a sample size of 120 respondents for the purpose of this study. The study employed the purposive sampling technique to choose villages that were within a 5-km radius of the hilltop forests. Additionally, a systematic parallel transect line design of one km by one km was used to identify household points for data collection. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kendall tau b-correlation, and linear regressions. The results summarized the following types of NTFPs (wild fruits 67.7%, wild vegetables 51.7%, medicinal plants 62%, wild mushrooms 80%, fuel wood 64%, and charcoal 77% collected in Kavonge and Museve hilltop forests. The Kendall tau b correlation result indicates a downward trend statistically significant (tau b−0.709, p= 0.000), signifying a consistent decrease in the amount of NTFPs collected over the years. The results found that there was a significant relationship (p= 0.000, R2 = 0.797) between the distance covered to the forest edge and the amount of NTFPs collected from the forests. The results concluded that the trends in NTFPs availability have been reducing gradually in the past 30 years and that distance was among the key factors affecting NTFPs availability and consumption in the study area. Based on the distance effects on NTFPs collection, it is essential to advocate for strict community bylaws that encourage responsible NTFPs collections, management, and forest preservation of endangered NTFPs species.