Local Communities and Wildlife Interactions the Case Study of Kitengela Wildlife Dispersal Area of Nairobi National Park
Abstract
Many protected areas in Kenya are inextricably linked to their adjacent areas/ dispersal
areas by the movement of migratory species. Despite of this ecological importance the
functional relationships between protected areas and their adjacent areas or dispersal
areas were not taken into consideration during the establishment of these protected areas.
This is well demonstrated in the Nairobi National park ecosystem through the Kitengela
wildlife dispersal area. Socio-economic activities being carried out within the dispersal
areas have great implications on sustainable conservation and well being of many
protected ecosystems in Kenya.
The study aimed at generating information on the role of local community involvement in
promoting sustainable management of wildlife ecosystems. This was based on the
assumption that people who live in direct contact with wildlife hold the key to sustainable
management of the wildlife ecosystems. The second objective was to assess the
vegetation status of the Kitengela area in relation to the human settlement and activities
pattern. The information gathered on vegetation status would help to determine the
current vegetation status of Kitengela area and form basis for future ecological trends for
proper monitoring and evaluation in the greater ecosystem .
The area was first stratified in terms of human settlement and human activity patterns
within four locations within the Kitengela wildlife dispersal area of Nairobi National
Park. The study was conducted using questionnaires as the main tool for primary data
collection for socio-economic data; a sample size of 50 households was selected by using
simple random sampling procedure; while vegetation data was collected along 3 transects
running parallel to each other which measured 0.5 kilometres long. A total of 10
sampling points were randomly selected along each transect. The data was then analyzed
using descriptive statistics in comparing frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics
was applied with the use of spearman's rank correlation and students T - test.
The study suggests that, where new and severe human activity patterns such as
settlements, quarrying, fencing and urban sprawl from Kitengela Athi river townships
have put a greater constraint on sustainable conservation of the greater Nairobi National
Park ecosystem. Due to these human activities the wildlife dispersal area is constantly
dwindling and affecting the biodiversity status of this ecosystem.
The study also demonstrated that sustainable wildlife ecosystem management can be
achieved through providing tangible benefits to land owners for supporting wildlife
conservation efforts. There was negative correlation between the membership of the lease
programme and fencing of the Nairobi National Park at 0.01 significance level.
The conclusions drawn from the study shows that active involvement and provision of
tangible benefits to adjacent communities promotes sustainable conservation of many
protected ecosystems. Hence adjacent communities goodwill on ecosystem resource use
is needed for appropriate wildlife conservation.
The recommendations include an integrated ecosystem management involving all
wildlife stakeholders in Kitengela area especially the local Maasai community.
Developing a land master plan which integrates the local livestock production economy
with ecotourism activities and sharing of conservation benefits .
Citation
Master of Arts (M.A) in Environmental Planning and ManagementPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of Arts
Description
Master of Arts (MA) in Environmental Planning and Management,