Conservation Of Terrestrial Flora And Fauna In Rachuonyo South Sub-County, Kenya: Situational Analysis Of Vegetation Clearance
IOSR Journal of Environmental Science Toxicology and Food Technology
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Abstract: This research assesses the ecological impacts of vegetation clearance in Rachuonyo South Sub-County, Homabay County. With 97% of households reliant on wood fuel and 74% engaged in subsistence farming, the region faces accelerating biodiversity loss. Surveying 379 households and 11 key informants, the study documents 80 threatened flora and 25 fauna species, including Combretum molle and Acacia seyal. Drivers of clearance include overpopulation, land fragmentation, poverty, infrastructure expansion, and cultural hunting practices. Statistical analysis confirms frequency and severity of ecosystem disruption, species displacement, and soil degradation. The study underscores that vegetation clearance is rising, poorly mitigated, and driven by unsustainable resource use and low conservation awareness. It calls for targeted community engagement, ecological education, and enforcement of biodiversity protection laws tailored to Rachuonyo?s socio-ecological context.