Assessing farmers’ perception for resilience of socio-ecological production landscapes in central and eastern Kenya

In order to understand farmers’ perceptions of resilience

in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes

(SEPLS), a participatory field assessment was conducted in

Kenya. A tool developed by the United Nations University-

Institute of Advanced Studies and Bioversity International

was used to elucidate the range of perceptions of risk

faced by five communities living in different agro-ecological

and socio-economic conditions. This paper presents

the practical process of carrying out assessments at the

community level and also lessons learned while testing

the toolkit. The process of using SEPLS indicators was

confirmed valuable in: 1) identifying local perceptions of

threats in landscape resilience, the perception differences

in various community landscapes, major causes of

threats and community efforts toward mitigation, 2)

improving awareness through stimulating discussions

with participants, and 3) providing a perspective on

future directions and encouraging local innovations and

potential interventions in response to negative trends. The

discussions were considered vital in creating social capital

for landscape governance, community ownership of the

process and identifying potential interventions. A few areas

of the tool were found wanting and some amendments

have been advanced for consideration.