The role of civil society organizations in enviromental conservation: a case study of the green belt movement in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of Civil Society Organizations in environmental conservation using the case of the Green Belt Movement in Nairobi, Kenya. The study sought to fInd out the role played by the Green Belt Movement in environmental conservation both locally and globally, to examine how the government involves Green Belt Movement in environmental conservation issues, to determine the challenges facing Green Belt Movement in participating in local and global environmental governance and to fInd out what can be done to strengthen participation of Green Belt Movement in her role in environmental conservation Both random and purposive sampling methods were used in the study. Random sampling method was used to sample staff members, in which case each had an equal and independent chance of being selected while the purposive sampling method was used to sample the heads of departments in the organization. The data collected was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The outcome of quantitative data from closed ended questions was tabulated using tables, frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data generated from open-ended questions and from interview schedules were placed in respective sections categorized in themes in accordance with research objectives. They were reported in narrative form. The study found out that the Green Belt Movement has a high involvement of the public in environmental conservation activities and more especially women although a small percentage of men and youth do participate, the key roles that GBM is principally involved in include: local and global advocacy of environmental justice and monitoring and evaluation of environmental conservation issues, to some extent the government does involve GBM in local and global policy making processes, networking different civil society organizations, developing standards for civil society participation in environmental conservation issues, identifying, assessing and momtonng environmental conservation issues. The key challenges that face GBM in participating in local and global environmental issues include poor implementation of environmental policy in the country, lack of effective participation by the public and non-involvement by government in the earliest stages of planning and initiation of projects. The study recommended that since community participation involves building ownership, commitment and accountability there is need to ensure that participation by local communities in Green Belt Movement's environmental conservation activities is a panacea to sustained prudent environmental management to cater for the needs of the present as well as future generations, the government should increase its support of Green Belt Movement and other civil society organizations in their environmental conservation activities. There is also need for strengthening or establishing local, national, regional, global networks and partnerships between civil society organizations. At the same time there is need for Green Belt Movement to adequately compensate local communities involved in tree planting and raising seedlings