Mongabay · Climate & nature

Kenya's Community Conservancies: Progress and Challenges

Dickson Kaelo, CEO of the Kenyan Wildlife Conservancy Association, discusses the evolution and ongoing challenges of community-led conservation efforts in Kenya.

Kaelo's journey began with human-wildlife conflict. He helped establish community conservancies, now covering 15% of Kenya, which brought benefits but also issues like elite capture and poor investor deals.

Early efforts faced collapse due to land subdivision. Kaelo later advocated for collective land management on private land, leading to more conservancies.

The KWCA represents numerous conservancies. However, problems persist, including governance issues, land disputes, and donor dependency.

The Vuma fund, a $65 million initiative, aims to support African community-led conservation organizations, with fundraising progressing.

Evidence shows improved livelihoods in conservancies, with diversified income streams and skills training. A wildlife tourism college was established.

KWCA advocates for community rights in conservation. Communities increasingly trust conservancies as community-managed areas.

Kaelo emphasizes the shift to 'community-led' conservation, needing community control and capacity. Donor mindsets are shifting, but the pace must accelerate.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.