Total Economic Value of Maasai Mau, Trans Mara and Eastern Mau ...

The results in adjusted equal annual equivalent (EAE) per hectare based on a 10-yearcycle are shown in Table 9. Tea is the most profitable land use followed by transmissionpoles, maize and firewood in that order. Thus farmers, ceteris paribus, if the objective isfinancial gain are likely to select tea farming as a priority farming enterprise given anyextra land to utilize.The opportunity cost of the conservation of the three forest blocks, instead of placingthem under the selected competing enterprises, is shown in Table 9. The comparativeanalysis indicate that tea farming generated higher incomes as compared to the otherpotential farm enterprises that were are likely to compete for forestland.Table 9: Potential net incomes for the three forest blocks of Mara River Basin forselected enterprisesAlternative investments EAE in KES Value (US $) Benefit/Cost forchangeMedium maize 22,325 41,967,547 3:17Eucalyptus firewood 42,952 25,979,462 6:55Eucalyptus poles 13,820 80,743,117 20:59Tea farming 63,322 119,035,566 1:2Note: The costs are interpreted to mean the value of forest that has to be lost when the land currentlyunder forest is used for the alternatives uses.Introduction of alternative enterprises provides opportunities and costs in foregonerevenue. Tea farming strongly competes with the forest as it results in the reduction oftotal economic value by half. In any case, the forest remains viable compared to otheralternative land uses.5.1 The Forest Block Capacity to generate benefits to cover management costsTo assess the ability of the three forests block to be sustainably managed from revenuegenerated by use of its resources was not possible. However, current revenuegeneration from the forest blocks and direct expenditure by KFS on the administrationof the three forest blocks were used as a proxy to evaluate their ability to sustainably tomeet their management costs. The staff breakdown for two zonal offices that directlymanage the Eastern Mau and Trans Mara forests was undertaken. The staff salaries andannual operational costs were estimated. The results indicate Nakuru had a total 29451