Do Communities perceive forest benefits based on their income levels?
Preliminary results indicate income levels affect perception and attitude of community members towards sustainable forest management. The results indicate that 70% of the low income earners below 200 US dollars living adjacent to forests, appreciate the forest because it provides them with firewood, honey, herbal medicine and constructing poles, while 60% of the high income earners above 1333 US dollars appreciate the forest because of long term benefits and services such as carbon sinks, climate amelioration and recreational services. To the low income earners living adjacent to the forests, forests are important for daily needs such as water, energy, food and less for services such as carbon sink and noise buffering. Forest resources are an important source of livelihood especially for low income earners who get various products from the forest. The slum dwellers (urban poor) bordering the forest indicated that they prefer participating in management of the forest if they are allowed
