Abstract:
To ensure the existence of humankind and the sustainable utilization of the earth’s resources, deliberate action
needs to be channelled towards the conservation of the vital support systems of the entire Earth ecosystems.
Forests in this case form quite a crucial part of this wider arrangement that if man does not deliberately conserve
and sustainably manage them, they risk being plunged into an irreversible predicament. This study aims at
identifying the perception and understanding of the local community on land use and utilization of the Nandi
Hills Forests. A mixed methodological design which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative
methodologies was embraced. The mixed methodological approaches used in this study were the concurrent
triangulation and nested/embedded designs. A four-tier analysis was carried out once all the data had been coded
and grouped. The state of the Nandi Hills Forests has been notably influenced by the level of awareness of the
local community on the significance of sustainable forest management and what their actions and/or in actions
mean to the forests.