This Groundwork investigates the sustainable practices and conservation efforts of forest-dwelling communities in the Cherangani and Kakamega forests of Kenya, emphasizing the complex and often conflicting dynamics that shape their relationship with the environment. These communities, deeply rooted in traditional ecological knowledge, are under growing pressure to balance their cultural heritage with modern conservation strategies imposed by external stakeholders. Tensions arise as they attempt to sustain their livelihoods—relying on forest resources for food, medicine, and income—while facing challenges such as land tenure insecurity, restrictive government policies, and the encroachment of commercial interests. 

At the core of these tensions is the trade-off between immediate survival needs and long-term ecological sustainability, with conservation measures sometimes marginalizing local groups or conflicting with indigenous knowledge systems. External economic pressures, including agricultural expansion, logging, and market demands, further exacerbate these challenges, leaving communities caught between preserving their ecosystems and responding to external forces that threaten both their environment and their way of life.