PASTORALISM, LIVELIHOODS AND CONSERVATION
Name
Walden
NASC 1001 - Environmental Science
2022
PASTORALISM, LIVELIHOODS AND CONSERVATION
Livestock and a large number of wild herbivores dominate Rimoi ecosystem, with Elephants and
small antelopes constituting over half the total wildlife populations. Other wildlife species include:
Crocodiles, monkeys leopards, hyenas, Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, elands, impalas,
waterbucks and other predators as well as a high diversity of bird life. Rimoi national game
reserve and the surrounding communal lands form an important ecosystem. Aerial surveys
conducted in the Kerio river dispersal area and Rimoi national Reserve ecosystem in June 2006
and July 2007 revealed that domestic herbivores (i.e. livestock) accounted for up to 80% of the
total herbivore population in 2006, and 86% in 2007 (Gichohi and Sitati 2007). Nineteen species
(5 domestic and 14 wild herbivores) were counted within an area of 2750 km2 in 2006 and 2925
km2 in 2007 at the beginning of the dry season. Total herbivore (wild and domestic) estimates
were 192,862 in 2006 and 272,981 in 2007. However, only 14 wild herbivore species were
observed in 2006 compared to 11 in 2007 (Gichohi & Sitati, 2007).
According to (Gichohi & Sitati, 2007) the increase in domestic herbivore population of 42% is
statistically significant and this has resulted in a change in wildlife density from 70/km2 in 2006 to
90/km2 in 2007. Domestic herbivores accounted for the largest increase of 52%. Therefore the area
has experienced a 50% loss of wildlife populations over the past few years due to the changing
land use/tenure. These changes in herbivore populations have been largely attributed to changing
land uses and tenure systems resulting from increasing human population, livestock and other
human activities, as well as climatic changes (ILRI, 2007). Frequent droughts have also occurred
in the recent years especially from 1991 to 1994, 1996/1997 and 2005 to 2006. The table below
shows the livestock and wild herbivores declining numbers and the periods within Rimoi. In 2002
and 2006, 45% of all livestock were also lost as a result of drought. In one year, 2007, livestock
populations recovered by more than 50%.
Yea
r
Wild herbivore
population
Livestock population
2002 73,71
1
295,6
60
2003 74,39
5
237,9
25
2004 53,77
1
184,4
34
2005 38,43
7
163,9
54
2006 38,43
7
154,4
25
2007 38,69
3
234,2
88
Source: (Gichohi and Sitati, 2007)
2.18 COMMUNITY BASED CONSERVATION APPROACH
Given the great demand for land in Kenya, designation of more protected areas based on national
park model is becoming impossible. Human population in Kenya continues to increase at about
2.8% annually (GoK, 2009). Local communities now comprehend their rights, and are supported
by international human rights organizations. Many communities in Kenya, especially the pastoral
communities lost their land to colonial settlers who protected these areas without consultations or
compensations. Therefore, these communities cannot further tolerate a repeat of the same at this
point in time, not in in form in which conservation was presented and implemented by then. Local
communities demand and dependence on natural resources on their lands for sustenance also
continue to increase. Current benefits of conservation pass on direct to the central government
rather than local communities who continually shoulder the opportunity cost and conservation
related losses. Thus, the only conservation approach that could work in Kenya outside the
protected areas, in wildlife dispersal areas and in community owned land (the pastoral communal
lands) is the protected landscape model (Aichison & Beresford, 1998).
The protected landscape model involves the community participation which values their culture,
and encourages suitable development on the lived working landscape e.g. the Masai lived in the
communally owned group ranches established in 1960’s discouraged further alienation of pastoral
community lands. Also Tsavo - Amboseli areas are group ranches which are in live – in working
landscapes and it represents a major wildlife conservation blocks remaining in Kenya which can
be replicated in the Rimoi eco-system. This live-in landscape of Tsavo-Amboseli is a land of
outstanding visual quality and beauty with most abundant, free ranging wildlife (especially large
mammals) concentrations. The model encourages wildlife to live and move freely in the parks,
protected areas, group ranches, community wildlife sanctuaries and other dispersal areas in the
eco-system.
The protected landscape model conservation has been practiced for years in group ranches with
their great biodiversity, physical features and cultural attractions. Group ranch affairs are
managed by an elected leadership that is mandated to regulate use of plant, water and land
resources. They also regulate human migration and settlement patterns in the landscape, and
ensure free access to pasture and water for all members. Wildlife and other natural resources are
often unharmed and allowed to share the land. This has been the case of most pastoral
communally - owned lands in Kenya for a long time and did not change with evolution of
community group ranches in the 1960’s. Land use practices that are compatible with the natural
environment such as wildlife conservation and pastoralism, maintenance of biological diversity,
provision of public enjoyments through recreation & tourism and benefits to the local community
all fulfill the characteristics of protected landscape model.
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