Optimizing environmental education and awareness strategies for sustainable forest management in Kenya. Lessons from Cherangany, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, and Kakamega forest ecosystems

Forests and allied environmental resources are important for environmental and socio-economic development. However, information is scarce on the ways of optimizing the strategies for forestry and environmental education and awareness in many developing countries. Using a literature review and document content analysis, this study explores the case of four forested ecosystems in Kenya with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the strategies to achieve sustainable forest management. Results show that the key ingredients of effective forestry and environmental education are formal education infrastructure, community engagement panels, digital platforms, corporate responsibility initiatives, media, arts, policy advocacy, and research with feedback loops on initiatives. Kenya is desirous of establishing robust mechanisms for effective environmental education and awareness, as demonstrated by policy and legal actions. Case studies of Cherangany, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, and Kakamega forest ecosystems demonstrate these commendable efforts by embedding the ingredients of effective strategy optimization within their forest ecosystem management plans. However, there is a need to revise the expired Kakamega, Mt. Kenya, and Aberdare ecosystem management plans and optimize awareness strategies by leveraging the existing educational infrastructure and increasing stakeholder engagement, especially activating the role of county governments and addressing outstanding challenges currently inhibiting sustainable forest management.