Determinants of Attitudes and Perceptions on Resource Use and Management of Marsabit National Reserve, Kenya

Abstract

The establishment of protected areas had negative consequences on local communities. The shift in conservation resulted in restriction of access to resources, disruption of local culture and economies by tourists, increased predation on crops and livestock and displacement of inhabitants. A survey was undertaken to determine relationship between respondent's socio-economic characteristics and their attitudes and perceptions towards protected area conservation, determine the effect of wildlife benefits and their associated cost on attitudes and perceptions and determine if respondent attitudes and perceptions was affected by proximity of their residence to Marsabit National Reserve. One hundred eighty-seven households were selected through stratified random sampling and surveyed using questionnaire composed of both open and closed ended questions. Information acquired was triangulated through informal interviews, field observations and focused group discussions. Cross-tabulation using Pearson Chi-square test controlled for selected variables were used to determine differences between independent variables and attitudes. The sex and conservation awareness do not affect respondent attitudes while age, level of education, economic activities, wildlife benefits accrued and damages, restricted use of wildlife resources and distance from the reserve significantly affected the attitudes. In addition, age significantly affected the perceptions of the benefits accrued from the reserve while wildlife damage significantly related to economic activities. It is recommended to consider level of education, economic activities, and age of respondents and increase wildlife benefits to foster community based wildlife management.

Livestock-based knowledge of rangeland quality assessment and monitoring at landscape level among borana herders of northern Kenya

“…Farming is rain-fed with common crops including maize, beans, wheat, sorghum, millet, teff and cowpeas grown on a small scale mainly for subsistence. Semi-sedentary pastoralism coupled with the reduction of grazing areas by encroachment of farming and settlement areas have created pressure on rangeland vegetation, leading to deterioration in some areas (Shibia 2010).…”

Factors That Influence Local Community Participation in Tourism in Murchison Falls Conservation Area

“…The youth play crucial roles which ensure the sustainability of protected areas and tourism. Shibia, M. G. [40] reported that young people have become increasingly more positive to conservation because of their education and environmental awareness.…”

Assessing Wildlife Consumption Awareness and the Attitudes of the Local Lambwe Valley Community towards Ruma National Park, Kenya

“…Lack of support and conflict between people residing in and around protected areas and conservation agencies are other challenges of protected area management [11]. Due to the livelihood implications caused by protected area establishment local communities perceive it as a liability [12]. This has been going on despite the fact that protected areas are the cornerstone of national and international conservation strategies [13].…”

“…It is believed that understanding the attitudes of local communities, particularly where their rural livelihoods are dependent on agriculture, like around Ruma National Park, is vital for resolving wildlife-human conflicts, which otherwise can threaten the success of any conservation activity [8,44]. In addition, local communities are vulnerable to the establishment of protected areas since they are followed by wildlife policies that restrict access to wildlife resources and their subsequent use [12].…”