Assessing the Role of Wildlife Management and Governance in Conservation Areas in Kenya

Abstract

The negative perception to wildlife conservation areas in Kenya is as a result of increased human – wildlife conflicts, competition over diminishing resources and governance by management regimes. Communities neighboring these areas perceive conservation areas as a disadvantage to their livelihoods, safety and well being. The aim of this research was to assess the governance and management of resources and conflicts, community perception and acceptance of wildlife conservation areas. The study was carried out in five conservation areas at the Coast, Tsavo, Southern, Central Rift and the Mountain conservation areas between August 2008 and December 2010. The conservation areas were categorized into three management regimes, the state owned parks managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), private and community conservancies. Conservation area management was assessed using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool for specific variables that directly impacted on the community and the conservation area. Geographical Information Systems and Remote sensing tools were used to assess land use and land cover changes for the past twenty years (1988 to 2010) for a 5 Km buffer zone using ArcGIS, Idrisi and Erdas Imagine software. Data on community perceptions was collected using questionnaires and interviews. All conservation areas were formally gazzetted and had capacity to enforce law. State parks and some community conservancies were in the process of implementing the management plans. The local communities at Rukinga and Ol Pejeta private conservancies received some economic benefits and they had some input in decision making. The GIS analysis of the five conservation areas indicated a general decrease of land cover and land use in hectares. There was an overall increase in agriculture by 7,103 ha, settlements by 608 ha. grasslands by 4,229 ha. and thickets by 1,234 ha. Moreover, there was a decrease in forests by 2,536 ha.

The results for the five conservation areas indicated that farming (31.8%) was the preferred type of land use followed by farming and livestock keeping (21%), livestock keeping (18.4%), conservancies (9.2%) and commercial activities (9.8%). The Pearson’s Chi square noted a degree of association between types of resources and practiced land use, types of resources and land ownership, diminishing resources and type of resources leading to conflict of resources, means of sustaining family and disadvantages of living next to the park. There was a positive significant correlation between type of conflict and conservancy benefits (r =0.201, p < 0.000, n = 659) at 0.05. Pearson’s Chi square tests indicated an association of type of land use and type of resources (x² = 35.905, df = 16, p = 0.003) at 0.05, diminishing resources had an association with types of resources (x² = 17.630, df = 16, p = 0.346 > 0.05). Communities had different perceptions of the management regimes which were largely influenced by conflict resolution and compensation for damages, economic benefits, and community involvement in decision making and sharing of resources within conservation areas. The outcome of this research recommends an improved relationship between conservation area management and communities to promote conservation methods that protect wildlife resources. Wildlife conservation areas could be more appreciated by communities through stakeholder involvement and increased benefits. The wildlife policies and strategies should consider different socio-cultural backgrounds and land use practices of communities neighboring conservation areas.