Community Perceptions of Land Use Change Impacts on Wildlife and Community Livelihoods in Kitengela Conservation Area, Kenya
Keywords:
Keywords: Land use change, Kitengela, migratory ungulates, community perceptionsAbstract
The Kitengela Conservation Area, located adjacent to Nairobi National Park in Kenya, has undergone significant land use changes over the past three decades, with critical implications on biodiversity and local community livelihoods. This study investigated the perceived drivers and impacts of these changes, and their effects on migratory wild ungulates and local communities. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 110 households selected using stratified random sampling in three village clusters. The questionnaire captured information on socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions on land use change drivers, benefits and drawbacks of these changes, and their perceived ecological consequences. Drivers of land use change cited included human population growth (90%), agricultural expansion (51.8%), and urbanization (39.1%). Respondents reported accruing socio-economic benefits such as increased business opportunities, job creation, and access to services, while negative impacts experienced included pollution, habitat degradation, and loss of biodiversity. A majority of the respondents (87.3%) perceived a decline in wildlife populations, with species such as lions and elephants reported as locally extinct. Ecological impacts cited included habitat destruction (67.4%), direct mortality due to human activities (16.4%), and behavioral disturbance of wildlife (16.2%). We found significant differences in perceptions of impact categories, with habitat-related impacts being most prominent. The findings highlight growing competition between development and conservation in peri-urban ecosystems and underscore the need for integrated land use planning and strengthened community-based conservation initiatives to ensure coexistence between people and wildlife.
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