Workpackages of Subproject E13

Workpackage WP13.1

The spatial investigation of the research areas

Short description: The driving forces of the past land use changes in Kakemega Forest and the surrounding areas will be investigated through a spatial analysis of geo-physical, agro-ecological and socio-economic data. It is envisaged that historical aerial photos (from 1949/51 and 1965/67) will be analysed and satellite imagery interpretation will be conducted for the years 1972 to 2001 in order to identify land cover changes during these time periods.

Workpackage WP13.2

The economic valuation of conserving forest systems

Short description: Drawing on the precautionary approach of the safe minimum standards and its principle idea of saving all biodiversity unless the costs of conservation are "intolerably high", the objective of this work package is to estimate the economic value of the various use and non-use values of forest resources and compare them with costs of conserving each of the research areas along the gradient of disturbance. These costs include the opportunity costs of conservation, e.g. benefits arising from farming activities.

Workpackage WP13.3

The sustainable long-term conservation and management of forest resources

Short description: The objective of this work package is to empirically measure costs incurred by- and benefits accruing to- different stakeholders for direct involvement in forest utilization and management. In the first step, the tangible utilization benefits and costs are calculated for the different stakeholders in the research sites. In the second step, an economic analysis will be conducted using shadow prices and a long-term sustainable forest utilization approach with its specific characteristics and governance structures will be conceptualised for each research area.