Parks and People: Community attitudes towards National Parks in rural Kenya; an assessment of policy change towards community conservation.

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyse community attitudes towards National Parks in rural Kenya,
with particular regard to the extent to which policy change has either successfully or
unsuccessfully integrated the local people within the Parks. Particularly, focus will be placed
upon the Amboseli National Park, investigating community attitudes and policies for that region.
Recent research has shown a shift from ‘fortress’ conservation involving the exclusion of the
local people, towards ‘community’ conservation which emphasises the need for local
involvement. However, this shift in ideology and policies appear to be difficult to see in
practice. Often research concludes there have been some successes with community
conservation but is yet to reach its full potential. This research examines the complex history of
Kenya and the Amboseli region and is crucial to gaining an understanding of why the Amboseli
National Park has caused countless conflicts. The results of the research show conflicting views
between the Parks and the communities within. Authorities on this matter however, now state
that the recent implementation of enhanced ecotourism and communication systems between the
Parks and the communities has improved relationships and created a more pragmatic resolution
to the integration of the locals within the Parks. The local communities struggle with constant
human wildlife conflicts and state they are gaining nothing from the Park and are not being
integrated, more over they are being excluded. This dissertation examines the relationship
between the parks and the people, and through the study of research and the practical application
of theoretical understanding, it suggests how some of the conflicts could be resolved or reduced.