The article illustrates two elements of conflict found in the Ndoinet Forest area (Mau complex, Kenya): the first concerns the contrasting vision of the local communities and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) of degraded forest areas. The second concerns the conservation practices promoted by the forest service, specifically reforestation initiatives and the proposal to erect an electric fence. After illustrating the most common uses of the forest by the local population, I reflect on the conflicting elements that are created between these and the conservation measures by referring to “classic” and new themes of political ecology.

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