The International Wildlife Conservation Agreements and Protection of Community Rights: a Case Study Conservation in Isiolo, Kenya

Abstract

The rights of indigenous peoples and local communities have been largely overlooked in global biodiversity conservation despite established international legal standards to protect them in environmental management and conservation. The global conservation movement has instead made unprecedented alterations in natural raw materials as well as their influence on the ecosystem vital for the survival of native populations and societies, especially in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). This research aims to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the important international treaties and conventions and their legal instruments that safeguard the native communities' privileges around the globe and evaluate the extent to which the provisions of these instruments have been applied in the implementation of community-based wildlife conservation in Isiolo, Kenya. Employing qualitative research methodology based on fractionally structured interviews, respondent's observations, as well as documentary review, this research seeks to understand how community conservancies are developed, the unexpected outcomes wildlife conservation produces, and the power dynamics between conservation organizations and communities the inequalities these often entail. The conservancies are key in the country as they attract tourists. They enable the government to collect revenue that is crucial for the smooth running of the economy. The surrounding communities are crucial for the success of the conservancies as their corporations enables smooth running of the wildlife services. The conservancies are formed from the legal frameworks put in place internationally and locally. The surrounding community feels insecure as the government owns most of the land in Isiolo. The community is scared of the government cutting them out of all the profits and grazing land as well. The community leaders are the link between the government and the community. This would ensure that their grievances are put across efficiently.