The Speaker made a presentation titled: Assessing the Impacts of Protected Areas Governance Changes in Kenya on People and Biodiversity: The Past, Present and Future. This covered the following key topics: Importance of Protected Areas (P.A.s) for Biodiversity and Climate Mitigation; Evolution of P.A. Governance: From Community-Based to PPP Models; Legal and Policy Frameworks Shaping Wildlife Conservation in Kenya; Governance Impacts on Communities: Benefits and Challenges; Biodiversity Recovery and Challenges: Overgrazing, Land Degradation, and Invasive Species; Conservation Outcomes: Effective Management and Sustainable P.A.s; Ongoing Governance Challenges: Human-Wildlife Conflict, Poaching, and Land Tenure; Role of Technology in P.A. Management: Satellite Tracking and Drones; Future Directions for P.A. Governance: Co-Management and Climate Resilience; Future Research Focus: Community Models, Indigenous Knowledge, and Adaptive Climate Governance
5 February 2025
Linkages Between Land Tenure and Land Degradation Neutrality in Context of UNCCD Decision 26/Cop14, Demonstrating Opportunities for Sustainable Outcomes by Actors in the Land Tenure Space.
University of Nairobi, Faculty of Law, Prof. H.W.O Okoth-Ogendo Boardroom
Mr. Steve Itela, Chief Executive Officer, Conservation Alliance of Kenya
The insightful plenary discussion highlighted the following key governance concerns –
a)Governance and Devolution: The need for policy and legislative reform to devolve wildlife management to counties, addressing issues like land tenure and the role of institutions like the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
b)Colonial Legacy and Wildlife Management: Challenging the colonial narrative of “protection” and shifting to a more inclusive wildlife management approach that integrates human activities and land use.
c)Community Involvement and Equity: The importance of genuine community involvement in conservation, ensuring real benefits reach the communities without being captured by cartels or bureaucracy.
d)Political Economy and Resource Utilization: The role of economic gain and political interests in wildlife conservation, and the need for fair and transparent revenue-sharing models to ensure community benefits.
e)Technology and Data Sharing: The potential of real-time technology and data sharing (e.g., satellite tracking) for effective wildlife management, highlighting the need for better integration and access to information.
f)Community Land and Conservation: The challenges of community land tenure, including misinformation, individualization of land, and the need for co-management models that genuinely involve local communities in decision-making and benefit-sharing.