Testing the attitudinal impact of a conservation tool outside a protected area: Thecase of the Kitengela wildlife conservation lease programme for Nairobi National Park

Abstract

This study was set up to look into socio-economic factors that influenced the success of the Kitengela wildlife conservation lease program for Nairobi National Park. The specific objectives were: (i) To establish whether the size of land owned by the respondents influenced their willingness to join the lease Program (ii) To find out the socio-economic expectations of the pastoralist landowners in the Kitengela area and suggest how wildlife conservation could help meet some of them in a sustainable way (iii) Identify strategies that were socially, culturally and economically acceptable to the landowners in mitigating the human-wildlife disharmony prevalent in the dispersal area (iv) To outline the socio-economic and cultural factors likely to influence the success of the lease program as a conservation tool in the dispersal area and suggest areas of improvement and (v) To gauge the attitudinal impact of the Wildlife Conservation Lease Program on the landowners. A total of 100 household heads were interviewed usmg an interview schedule. 52 of the respondents were on the Lease program while the rest (48) were not. Both groups were randomly selected. 77% of the respondents were males while 23% were females. The average age of the respondents was 47 years with the majority between the ages of 33-40 years. The average number of dependants was 7.2. The majority attended primary school (47%) and secondary school (12.2%). 3.3% were in tertiary institutions. The average level of formal education was 4.5years with 42% of the respondents having no formal education while 10% had over 12 years of formal education. About 60% of the respondents practised semi-pastoralism as their main occupation while the rest practised semi-pastoralism alongside trade and employment. The average size of landholding was 150 acres and ranged between 4 -1,216 acres. The prices of land ranged between KSh.50,000 and 600,000 and averaged KSh.188,400. Prices were directly influenced by proximity to shopping centres, the tarmac road and the National Park. 50% of the respondents lived within a range of 1-10 kilometres from the Park boundary (Empakasi River). The average fenced area (for cultivation and grass reserves) was 10 acres. The respondents lost 54% of their cattle during the year 2000 drought. However, by April 2003, cattle numbers had built up by 44%. A significant proportion of the increase emanated from cattle purchases. Emerging fences were cited as the main hindrance to cattle movement and grazing. The numbers of three wildlife species namely: Eland, Wildebeest and the Coke's Hartebeest were reported to have decreased, while those of four species namely: Ostrich, Gazelles, Hyenas and Lions were reported to have increased. 94% of the respondents recommended the sharing of revenue and compensation for losses as the best incentives for wildlife conservation outside the Protected Area. All those on the Lease program were willing to remain on it and 94% of them cited school fees as the greatest benefit they got from the program. 45.1% suggested that the lease contract duration be increased. Ninety one percent of the respondents thought that killing of lions to show bravery was no longer in practice and 82.7% felt that lions were only killed in retaliation for killed livestock. Attitudes towards wildlife were found to be similar to those in the 1999 ACC survey (for those not on the Lease program) but considerably different from those of people on the lease program, the latte being in favour of wildlife. The conclusion was that the lease program had positively altered landowners' attitudes towards wildlife. The recommendations include the expansion of the lease program, strengthening of the landowners Associations, supporting livestock keeping and eco-tourism activities, exploring ways of benefit sharing with the Park, and addressing predation issues.