The role of faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOS) in environment conservation.

Abstract

Environmental concerns presently represent a global interest, a question of life and death of humankind and the whole planetary system. The present study is an attempt to investigate the role played by Faith-based Non-Governmental Organizations in environment conservation. The study sets out to investigate how religion, as a dimension of culture, can contribute to solving the environmental crisis, especially how it inspires and informs environment conservation activities of Faith-based NGOs -, The study has used a case study method because of the distinctive character of the research problem,and the need to collect in-depth data. World Vision Kenya programme in Ndabibi was selected because it covers a geographical area whose activities affects Kenya's sensitive ecological sites of Mau forest complex, Eburru escarpment and Lake Naivasha, In its methodology, the study has used the following methods to collect primary data: in-depth interviews with purposely selected key respondents; questionnaires to other randomly selected respondents; and non-participant observation. In addition to primary data, the study has also used secondary data from library research. Finally, all data has been analyzed using qualitative methods. The study begins its inquiry by giving an overview of religion's involvement in environment which is essential for the understanding of the foundation, motives and role of World Vision Kenya in environment conservation. This analysis found out that religion has a major role in inspiring and informing environment conservation activities of faith-based NGOs, especially by assisting these NGOs to transform the community's Worldview. Furthermore,it was particularly important in this study to establish how the Christian faith rooting of World Vision Kenya has influenced their interactions, decision making and future policies in relation to environmental concerns. Thus, the study has examined the foundations of WVK,its vision, mission and goals, as a way of establishing whether their guiding principles are environmentally friendly and reflective of the Biblical teachings on environment.The study has found that although WVK does not have an outlined environmental policy, it has included in its vision,mission and goals the need to protect the environment. In addition,the study has investigated the environment conservation activities of World Vision Kenya(WVK) in Ndabibi, Lake Naivasha area. This analysis was aimed at revealing WVK's understanding and practice of sustainable development in light of the growing ecological awareness.Ndabibi is a key area in regard to environment conservation in Kenya because it affects three sensitive and important ecological sites in Kenya-Mau forest complex, Eburru escarpment and Lake Naivasha. The study has found that although no major environment conservation activities is being carried, WVK has made environment conservation activities as a cross-cutting issue in all its humanitarian projects. Having examined the dynamics that influence World Vision Kenya role in environment conservation,the study concludes that there is need for World Vision Kenya and other faith-based NGOs to understand better the concept of poverty and development in the light of the growing ecological crisis. Thus, these NGOs need to further and constantly re-examine their assumptions about the underlying causes of environment pollution and then re-align their strategies accordingly. Lastly, the study adds nuance to our understanding of environment conservation by recommending that religion-social concerns of a community needs to be addressed side to side with the prioritized economic concerns. Researches done on the conservation of Ndabibi area have prioritised economic empowerment and improved scientific conservation methods as the major solutions, while the study has argued that there is also need to prioritise ways that will transform the community's perception of its surrounding, its resources and its human relationships if the war against environment degradation is to be won substantially.