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Cultural
Conservancies and hope for conservation in Kenya.
November 2005
Lizanne du Plessis
In the
previous article in this series we discussed the problematic
issue of saving wildlife or sustaining people. We saw that both are
equally important in the long run as parts of the intricately-woven
web of life where everything is connected to and influenced by
everything else. This brings us to the sensitive matter of
conservation areas in Africa, which border traditional tribal
communities. In areas where these communities are still heavily
dependent on subsistence farming, they perceive wildlife as a major
threat to their own survival.
I have come across this problematic situation while conducting
fieldwork for a masters degree among the Pokot people of Laikipia,
Kenya. The study was made possible with the grace of the Gallmann
Memorial Foundation and Mrs Kuki Gallmann, writer of the
international bestseller “I dreamed of Africa”.
During the course of my time there, I realised that the survival of
the Pokot people is threatened by wildlife incursions from
neighbouring wildlife conservancies in the Laikipia area. On the one
hand, the people’s survival is threatened because they are dependent
on their crops and livestock for food, and these are frequently the
target of game that has strayed from the conservancies. Elephants
regularly wreak havoc on vegetable gardens (shambas) and large
predators like lion and leopard prey on livestock. In a village
where some households (like Mama Ringeta’s) have only one goat to
provide her with milk, and the ongoing drought is reducing any
chance of a good crop and thus food for the season – these issues
become life-and-death factors.
But on the other hand, the local people’s response is to kill the
wildlife. In this contest for survival, the futures of many
endangered species become perilous. Furthermore, the Pokot culture
values warrior bravery as measured by the hunting and killing of
dangerous game. Clearly, there must be another way that benefits
both the local people and the conservation efforts in the area.
One promising solution in the Laikipia area is the creation of
Cultural Conservancies alongside (or as part of) Nature
Conservancies. Although there are various ways in which Cultural
Conservancies are operated, the guiding principle is cooperation
between local people and conservationists. Guests at the cultural
conservancies are offered the chance to visit local villages, view
the villagers in traditional wear and buy some of their cultural
artefacts. The visitors pay to see some of their traditional dances
as well as listen to local folktales. The local people are also
employed in the lodges and trained as hiking and birding guides. The
conservancies represent a potential win-win situation, as locals are
slowly making the change from “wildlife as threat and competitors
for our survival”, to a new insight that wildlife is the drawcard
for tourists and the source of an alternative income.
The local people are beginning to realise, in a time when
overgrazing and overpopulation are threatening their traditional way
of life, that their natural surroundings and wildlife may
paradoxically offer a way out. If they don’t benefit from
conservation, the cause cannot be won in the long run. The creation
of Cultural Conservancies thus also offers a development solution by
providing an opportunity to earn an income outside of subsistence
farming. Honour and bravery among the people are also increasingly
being measured by a person’s contributions to conservation,
education and the creation of Cultural Conservancies.
Yet, there are many challenges along the way, such as the fair
distribution of income generated from tourism amongst the local
people, the management of the conservancies and capable people to
oversee operations, as well as the cultural changes and conflicts
between the younger and older generations regarding new ways of
life. The challenges will remain, but at least it seems that some
progress is being made. And it does seem like an alternative path
may have been found – at least in Kenya.
By Lizanne du Plessis
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