Octa Journal of Environmental Research Oct. – Dec., 2014 International Peer-Reviewed Journal ISSN 2321 3655 Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol.2(4): 360-368 Available online http://www.sciencebeingjournal.com Octa Journal of Environmental Research Research Article INTEGRATING LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION WITH FOREST MANAGEMENT AMONG LEROGHI FOREST ADJACENT PASTORAL COMMUNITIES IN SAMBURU COUNTY, KENYA Luvanda A. M. Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya *Corresponding author’s Email: luvandaa@gmail.com Received: 17 th Dec. 2014 Revised: 25 th Dec. 2014 Accepted: 31 st Dec. 2014 Abstract: This study focused on nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists whose resources of concern are water, dry season fodder and pastures. This study envisages that the success of the traditional pastoral resource utilization system depends upon risk spreading and highly flexible mechanisms such as human and livestock mobility, communal land ownership, herd diversity and herd separation or splitting. The current livestock production system was unsustainable thus the basis for this study, which sought to assess the community’s socio-economic characteristics; document the trends in the livestock population; and assess the level of forest use in livestock production by the forest adjacent local community. Seventy-nine respondents (30%) were studied using a structured questionnaire and data analyzed using Excel (MS office) and Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Trade in livestock, livestock products and livestock inputs provide employment and income opportunities for the local communities. The majority of the local people derive 78% of their total income from livestock sales. The sustainable forest based livestock production system depends upon adoption of controlled grazing practices where incentives, taxation methods, environmental education and awareness programs, appropriate resettlement of forest dwellers and promotion of alternative sources of income such as agri-pastoral business development. Keywords: Forest; Grazing; Livestock; Pasture; Community; Water. Postal Address: Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Dryland Eco-Region Research Programme P.O. Box 892-90200, KITUI-KENYA Tel: +254 720 829870 INTRODUCTION Kenya's arid and semi - arid lands (ASALs), cover about 80% of the country's total land surface and account for more than 80% of eco- tourism interests in the country. ASALs accommodate 25% of the human population and over 50% of the country's livestock populations, which accounts for 90% of employment and more than 95% of the family incomes (GoK, 2003). The livestock populations are highly depended on weather, sales and the management of the rangelands and the environment. Leroghi forest, located to the south west of Samburu County, was gazzetted in 1936 and covers an area of 91,790 ha. The plateau reaches a height of 2580 m above sea level and receives an annual rainfall of between 900 - 1500 mm. Closed canopy forest (Sirat), characteristic of dry zone and Juniperus-Podocarpus evergreen forest, account for 25% of the total forest cover and is an important source of dry season water (sere), pasture, fodder, food, honey and medicine. Water is perhaps the most important resource and its availability for livestock and human consumption is perpetual preoccupation among pastoralists who have adopted watering regimes with positive impacts on rangelands. Traditional pastoral resource utilization is predicted upon risk spreading and highly flexible mechanisms such as human and livestock mobility, communal land ownership, herd diversity and herd separation or