Browsing by Author "Kairu, Anne"

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    Disappearing medicinal plants in mt. kenya forests, kenya: a case study of east african green heart (Warburgia ugandensis sprague)
    (2013-07) Kairu, Anne; Gichuki, Nathan; Kanya, James; Kindt, Roeland
    Natural disturbances and human activities are significantly affecting indigenous trees species in forests. Warburgia ugandensis is a plant highly valued for its medicinal properties, timber and fuel among other uses. Many rural communities use it as a remedy for a number of ailments. Investigations into the value of its chemical content reveal that it has antibiotic, antifungal, anti inflammatory and antiseptic effects. W. ugandensis has been rated as the second highest medicinal plant after Prunus africana. However its population has been affected by human activities, climatic effects and pests. The objective of this study is to investigate the threats of W. ugandensis in Mt. Kenya forests. The study was conducted in dry montane potential natural vegetation type forests in the North West of Mt. Kenya forest. Eighteen subplots of 625 m2 each were used to sample number of debarked trees, stumps and other types of damages. Causes of threat were identified as human, wildlife, livestock and pests. Data was analyzed by general linear models (GLM) using SPSS 11.0 (2001) statistical software and Student Newman Keuls (S-N-K) at 5% significance level. Human activities caused the highest amount of threats while debarking was the most damaging form of threat. The findings of this study are important for sustainable utilization, management and conservation of the remnants of W. ugandensis in the forest and farm lands.
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    Environmental factors influencing structure and distribution of east African green heart (Warburgia ugandensis Sprague) in Mt. Kenya Forest
    (Academic Journals, 2014-06) Kairu, Anne; Gichuki, Nathan; Kanya, James; Kindt, Roeland
    Effects from past climate, natural disturbances and human activities are significantly impacting negatively on current day processes in tropical indigenous trees forests. Most of the indigenous trees mostly hard woods have been logged by human activities. Warburgia ugandensis is a tree that is highly valued for its medicinal properties, timber, poles and fuel wood. Consequently, its population and distribution has been on the decline due to environmental and anthropogenic impacts. There is no documentation on how environmental factors affect distribution and population structure of W. ugandensis in Mt. Kenya forest and without which conservation strategies may be impossible. This study purposes to determine the present distribution and population structure of W. ugandensis in Mt. Kenya forests. Study area was stratified into four blocks based on potential natural vegetation: moist montane, moist intermediate, dry montane and dry intermediate natural vegetation types. Dry montane was the only vegetation type with W. ugandensis and therefore four forest blocks were selected for this study: Kangaita, Kahurura, Ontulili and Gathioro forests. Belt transects measuring 25 m wide and 500 m long were marked and subdivided into 20 sub-plots of 25 by 25 m from which four sub-plots were systematically selected for sampling. Rainfall data for all the sampled blocks were obtained from meteorological records while altitude data was obtained by use of geographical positioning system (GPS). Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.0 (2001) statistical software. There was a significant negative correlation between rainfall and the population structure of W. ugandensis. The species was concentrated in the drier parts of dry montane forests while none existed in the other three potential natural vegetation types.
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    From Shiny Shoes to Muddy Reality: Understanding How Meso-State Actors Negotiate the Implementation Gap in Participatory Forest Management
    (Routledge, 2017-11) Kairu, Anne; Upton, Caroline; Huxham, Mark; Kotut, Kiplagat; Mbeche, Robert; Kairo, James
    Recent research on participatory forest management (PFM) in the global south has highlighted the existence of a widespread “implementation gap” between the ambitious intent enshrined in legislation and the often partial, disappointing rollout of devolved forest governance on the ground. Here, through an ethnographic case study of forest officers (FOs) in Kenya, we draw on a framework of critical institutionalism to examine how key meso-level actors, or “interface bureaucrats,” negotiate and challenge this implementation gap in everyday forest governance. We go beyond consideration of institutional bricolage in isolation or as an aggregate category, to analyze how bricolage as aggregation, alteration, and/or articulation is variously driven, shaped, and constrained by FOs’ multiple accountabilities and agency. Our analysis highlights the locally specific, contingent, and mutually reinforcing nature of accountability, agency and bricolage, and their explanatory power in relation to the performance and nature of “actually existing” PFM.
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    From Shiny Shoes to Muddy Reality: Understanding How Meso-State Actors Negotiate the Implementation Gap in Participatory Forest Management
    (Taylor and Francis Online, 2017-11) Kairu, Anne; Upton, C.; Huxham, M.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Mbeche, R.; Kairo, J.
    Recent research on participatory forest management (PFM) in the global south has highlighted the existence of a widespread “implementation gap” between the ambitious intent enshrined in legislation and the often partial, disappointing rollout of devolved forest governance on the ground. Here, through an ethnographic case study of forest officers (FOs) in Kenya, we draw on a framework of critical institutionalism to examine how key meso-level actors, or “interface bureaucrats,” negotiate and challenge this implementation gap in everyday forest governance. We go beyond consideration of institutional bricolage in isolation or as an aggregate category, to analyze how bricolage as aggregation, alteration, and/or articulation is variously driven, shaped, and constrained by FOs’ multiple accountabilities and agency. Our analysis highlights the locally specific, contingent, and mutually reinforcing nature of accountability, agency and bricolage, and their explanatory power in relation to the performance and nature of “actually existing” PFM.
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    Staff Profile: Kairu Anne Wangari
    (University of Embu, 2015) Kairu, Anne