Wildlife and People:
Conflict & Conservation in Masai Mara, Kenya

Introduction

Initiated at DICE in 1998, this programme aims to facilitate the long-term coexistence of wildlife and people in the Kenyan part of the world-famous Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

This area comprises the Masai Mara National Reserve, and surrounding unprotected communal land that is occupied by pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.

Human and wildlife populations coexist in disharmony both inside and outside the Reserve, threatening both local livelihoods and endangered species.

A significant tourism market promises many benefits but also threatens the integrity of the ecosystem.

Working closely with local communities, government authorities and NGOs, through training, research and implementation, we are furthering the understanding of human-wildlife conflict, and developing sustainable solutions across the entire ecosystem.

The programme is managed by Dr Matt Walpole. It trains and employs a number of Kenyan and Maasai participants, and works with a range of collaborative partners within Kenya.

Major funding has been received from the Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species, and WWF.

Phase 1 of the project focused on training and research. Phase 2 is continuing this process whilst moving into implementation and development.

Phase 1:

Phase 1 of the programme (1998-2001), was funded primarily by the Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species (project no. 162/6/131).

Goal:

to train Kenyans at all levels to undertake monitoring and research into various forms of human-wildlife conflict in the Mara ecosystem, and to use the results of such research to develop recommendations for the management and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

Research themes:

1. tourism impacts within the Masai Mara.
2. human and ecological factors affecting black rhino population dynamics.
3. human-elephant conflict outside the Masai Mara.

Outputs:

• 2-3 years of field research
• Two completed Kenyan PhDs and two Kenyan MScs
• Over 20 local community members and rangers trained in monitoring techniques.
• Scientific articles, including a brief news piece in Nature.
• Local dissemination and planning workshops, published by IIED:

Walpole M.J., Karanja G.G., Sitati N.W. and Leader-Williams N. (2003) Wildlife and People: Conflict and Conservation in Masai Mara, Kenya. Wildlife and Development Series No.14, International Institute for Environment and Development, London.

Phase 2:

Phase 2 of the programme (2001-2003), is funded by the Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species (project no. 162/10/003), and WWF (project no. 9F0727.01).

Goals:

To develop and implement a community-driven conservation, conflict resolution and ecotourism programme that will protect endangered wildlife and alleviate human-wildlife conflict outside the formal protected area network.

To mitigate human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the Mara area of Kenya, through a programme of monitoring, research, mitigation and capacity-building activities that will provide long-term, sustainable benefits to elephants and local communities