THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

known as community forest user groups. 418 The new law gives local governments jurisdiction
over forests within their territorial boundaries. On the other hand the new law also envisages
local interest variations, hence the propositions for local community participation. According
to the new law, any individual or group of individuals wishing to benefit from forest resources
must organise in a community forestry association. However, the study noted that although
this was perceived as a mechanism for protecting local forests through local participation, it is
a far cry from realising this objective. Instead Foresters have used the law to allocate more
limbering rights to timber companies through concessions and sale of permits. In the final
analysis it was observed that, although the new forest law aimed enlisting local participation
through improved decentralisation, more is yet to be achieved in terms of enlisting genuine
local participation. Therefore, evaluating it from studies emphasizing decentalisation and
resource use among rural communities, one key notion has been found central; protecting
local resources from degradation, requires appreciating local people and institutions in their
diversity. 419
Overall, appreciating biodiversity, local politics and local participation calls for three
dimensions: first, the provision of a framework whereby it becomes possible to examine how
wider socio-economic and socio-political changes relate to local change; second, an emphasis
on the importance of social differentiation and of agency in determining outcomes of local
change; and third, the importance given to both physical and social resources employed by
individuals or households in shaping strategies and values for living.
4.3 Institutionalism and bioethics in biodiversity resources management
In the previous chapter, we discussed the concept of biodiversity as a common good, whose
health guarantees wellness for all and whose destruction pronounces disaster to all. Therefore,
in order to address the perceived biodiversity problems and risks, environmental advocates
and bureaucracies have coordinated the use of certain techniques such as environmental
planning and environmental impact assessment, biodiversity protection policies and other
formal rules in protection of protected areas and threatened species. 420
The focus of this subsection is to draw a link between institutionalism and bioethics as an
avenue that can be used to protect the quality of biodiversity. The interplay of these
techniques entails political, technical and individual rationality. Political rationality is based
on the ability to solve problems and arrive at effective and collective decisions. Individual
rationality however deals with the personal appreciation of what is good for an individual and
bad for both him and the society. 421
418
The Kenya Forest Act Caps 385, 2005.
419
Reardon, T, and S. A,Vosti. 1995. Links between Rural Poverty and the Environment in Developing
Countries: Asset Categories and Investment Poverty. World Development 23:1495-1507.
420
Christiansson, C, Dahlberg, A., Loiske, M.V.; and W, Ostberg, eds. 1993. Environment-Users -Scholars:
Exploring interfaces. Stockholm: EDSU, School of Geography, Stockholm University.
421
Bebbington, A. 1999. Capitals and Capabilities: A framework For Peasant Viability, Rural Livelihoods and
Poverty. World Development 27:2021-45.
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