Assessment of factors affecting Isiolo County community wildlife conservancy with reference to ecotourism development in Kenya

Abstract

This study focused on the assessment of factors affecting Isiolo county community wildlife conservancy with reference to ecotourism development in Kenya. Community based wildlife conservancy has become a popular approach especially in Africa since it has been found to be effective in conservation of wildlife outside protected areas and ecotourism developments. However community based wildlife conservation approach faces a number of challenges undermining its achievement of ecotourism goals. Thus, the study established factors constraining community wildlife conservancy in achieving ecotourism. The objectives of the study were to establish community based factors affecting community wildlife conservancy in achieving ecotourism. To examine socio-ecological factors hindering development of ecotourism by community wildlife conservancy and to establish remedies to the challenges to eco-tourism development in Merti Sub-County. The study was guided by two theories; Structural functionalism Theory and political ecology Theory. Descriptive survey design was used; interview schedules and Focus Group Discussion were used to collect data from respondents. The study usedstratified samplingto arrive at a sample of 120 households who were permanent resident of Merti, Cherrab and Kom Divisions of Merti Sub-County and purposive sampling of eight key informants, five men and three women who took part in FGD. Field data was analyzed using SPSS and Excel, analyzed data was presented using frequency table, pie charts, bar graphs and percentages.Pilot study was conducted at Archer’s post, Samburu County of Kenya to establish suitability and clarity of the research instruments. Findings of this study indicated that majority of the respondents 92.5% believed that ecotourism development by community wildlife conservancy is ineffective because of effects of community based, socio-ecological and technical factors which requires an urgent remedies. Key community based factors identified are low level of education, high level of poverty, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure development and human wildlife conflict. Socio-ecological factors are habitat destruction, poaching, disease transmission, and compensation procedures. The study recommends inclusion of wildlife conservation and ecotourism study in primary and secondary school curriculum and formation of a body that shall oversee community wildlife conservation initiative and its welfare. This study concludes that factors affecting Isiolo county community wildlife conservancy with reference to ecotourism development are majorly limited to the community actions and hence this study recommends initiation of community capacity building forums and active management participation