Assessment of Socio-Economic and Ecological Impacts of Community-Based Approaches in Natural Resources Management in Mandera East Sub-County, Kenya

This thesis examined the socio-economic and ecological impacts of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approaches in Neboi and Libehiya Wards of Mandera East Sub-county. The research sought to assess the impacts on water, land, and forest resources, evaluate community participation in natural resource management, and investigate the role of community-based institutions in governing these resources. A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving 97 household heads and 12 respondents from the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Multiplex regression indicated that CBNRM factors had a significant influence on the socioeconomic and ecological outcomes (p < 0.05) and the R 2 was 0.523. ANOVA test verified the significance of the model. Whereby, 93% of the outcome was correlated with demographic factors. Findings indicated that CBNRM positively impacted natural resource management by enhancing community participation, fostering a sense of collective ownership, and promoting collaborative governance of water, land, and forest resources. The study also found that when communities are actively involved in the management processes, their indigenous knowledge and expertise significantly contribute to better decision-making, leading to sustainable natural resource management. The study concluded that strengthening community engagement in natural resource management leads to improved socio-economic and ecological outcomes, including improved livelihood attainment, sustainable use, and protection of natural biodiversity. The study, therefore, recommends enhancing the CBNRM framework in natural resource management to ensure socio-economic and ecological sustainability