Browsing by Author "Koros, Hillary"

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Indigenous knowledge, uses and conservation of prunus africana (hook. f.) kalkman in Nandi forests
(International Knowledge Sharing Platiform : JNSR, 2016-01-01) Koros, Hillary; Malombe, Itambo; Mwendwa, Kaleb; Jeruto, Pascaline; Agevi, Humphrey; Konje, Martha
Prunus africana is a multipurpose medicinal tree of worldwide fame in treatment of benign prostate cancer. However, the wild collection is no-longer sustainable due to overharvesting. In order to conserve the species, there is need to determine the status of the local community knowledge on uses and conservation measures to develop protocols for sustainable utilization and avert extinction of the species. Stratified random sampling was used to interview and administer questionnaires to 188 households and herbalists within a buffer zone of 1 km in South Nandi Forest. The study found that 99% of the locals were aware of the P. africana tree. Majority (82%) agreed that P. africana population was decreasing both in the forests and farmlands. Almost all parts of the P. africana were utilized for different purposes. Majority of the locals (66%) acquire P. africana products from the forest. Closer proximity to the forest and uncontrolled harvesting provides easier accessibility to P. africana for households use. The study concluded that P. africana is an important multipurpose medicinal tree to the local community and recommends enhanced planting and protection within and outside the forests to ensure posterity.
Population status and conservation hotspots of Prunus Africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman in South Nandi Forest, Western Kenya
(Researchjournali’s Journal of Forestry, 2016-07-01) Koros, Hillary; Konje, Martha; Wambua, Margaret; Chesire, Christopher; Odeny, Dickens; Malombe, Itambo
Prunus africanais assessed as vulnerable globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The conservation status is however general and under-illustrated. It lacks details on the actual threats that cause precarious spatial distribution of the population in certain localities such as South Nandi Forest, Western Kenya. This study assessed thepopulation structure of P. africanaby correlation of biometric variable including Diameter at Breast Height and height class distribution and regeneration with the diversity and frequency of threats in spatial context of the plant species. Stratified Random Sampling was used to establish three belttransects of 400 m by 2 km within the forest and 1 km buffer zone in farmlands. The measure of mean, spread, normal distribution and correlation of biometric variables of P. africana was analysed using PAST (Version 4.3). Population structure was summarised using histograms and bar charts. Frequency distribution table was used to analyse the number of incidence of the threats to P. africanaat plot level. T-test was used to test for differences in P. africanaparameters among transects. The spatial distribution model of P. africanain the forest and buffer zone was mapped using the maximum entropy suitability mapping methodas implemented in MAXENT software(Version 3.3.3k) and QGIS Brighton (version 2.6). Prunus africanapopulation was highly concentrated in North eastern part of the forest and surrounding farmlands with admirable number of mature individuals. The Diameter at Breast Height distribution ofP. africanain the forest showed unstable and intermittent population structure unlike a stable population in the surrounding farmlands. Although the seeds germinated profusely, there was poor establishment and survival.Key conservation threats were overgrazing, firewood collection, logging and charcoal burning. The study recommends both in-situand ex-situconservation measures.Keywords: multipurpose, overgrazing, regeneration, vulnerable