Dominant Tree Species for Increasing Ground Cover and their Distribution in Siaya County, Kenya

Climate change resulting from global warming is currently one of the global environmental issues of concern. Trees play a very important role in mitigating this problem through sequestrating carbon dioxide which is one of major green house gases. The importance of trees is incontestable; they have many environmental, social and economic benefits, therefore, effective community participation can be an important strategy in ensuring adequate tree cover. In Kenya, environmental degradation occasioned by low tree cover is evident. The current tree cover in the study area is approximately 3% which is far below the recommended national level of 10%. It was important for a study to be carried out to establish the tree species (indigenous and exotic) available in the study area with a view to knowing the tree types that can be given priority when increasing tree cover. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the dominant tree species which can be used to increase groundcover and their distribution in Bondo and Siaya sub-counties, Siaya County. This study employed a cross-sectional survey research design. Reliability of 0.710 was realized when pilot tested. A total of 120household heads were interviewed of which 67% were women and 33% were men. Data analysis used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software for qualitative data, resulting in tables, numbers and percentages The study concludes that common indigenous tree species are; Cassia siamea (Obino), Markhamia lutea (Siala), Acacia spp (Ali/Laktar/Kudho), Euphorbia triculli (Ojuok), and Albizia zyiyia (Otur-bam) and for the exotic tree species in the area area are; Thevetia peruviana (Achak/Maua), Eucalyptus spp (Bawo/ Kaladal/ Nyar-maragol), Grevillea robusta (Bole bole), Mangifera indica (Mawembe) and Ocotes americana (Avocado). Any planned increase in ground cover should give the identified species of trees priority for they have adapted themselves to local climatic conitions.