What Are Conservancies
Introduction:
Natural resource management policies in most of Africa were shaped by the colonial era project of extending European political control into rural African landscapes, culture, and resources.
For a long time, wildlife management was largely the responsibility of the State at the exclusion of the local people.
When national parks and game reserves were set up, they left a huge chunk of the land in the neighbouring areas still hosting wildlife.
In Kenya, over 65% of wildlife is found outside the formal national parks and reserves. Increasingly these private areas saw the need to adopt wildlife as a land use, rather than work to eliminate it.
These conservation areas in private and community land are known as conservancies and have now been institutionalized in the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, of 2013.
They are defined in law as land set aside by an individual landowner, body corporate, group of owners, or a community for the primary purpose of wildlife conservation.
Why are conservancies important?
Ecology and Conservation
The biggest challenge facing wildlife conservation is the lack of space and the ecological isolation of small populations.
Conservancies are creating more space for wildlife, offering ecological connectivity, and allowing the integration of different populations which boosts survival
In the process, conservancies have emerged as a critical and indispensable conservation model. The current 170 conservancies cover over 6.35 million hectares of land. This translates to 11% of Kenya’s land mass, compared to 8.23% for parks and reserves and 3.27% for forests.
Conservancies now host some of the world’s most endangered species, such as the Black and White Rhinos, Grevy’s Zebras, Hirola, Wild Dogs, Giraffes, and Elephants.
For example:
- 45% of the black rhino population is in private and community conservancies
- 72% of the southern white rhino is in Laikipia conservancies
- 90% of the global population of grevy zebra is in conservancies
- 90% of the world’s hirola population is in community conservancies
- The second largest population of elephants in Kenya – after the Tsavo Ecosystem – is in Laikipia conservancies
Socio-Economic
Wildlife conservation and tourism are traditionally disdained by the local communities. Because they are associated with the government, foreigners, and exclusion.
The majority of the national parks and gamer reserves are managed by the central government which also collects revenue from tourism into the national kitty supposedly to develop the whole country.
Conservancies are the closest local communities have come to both manage wildlife at the community level and also derive direct income from tourism.
The communities receive a guaranteed monthly income offering an alternative to farming and animal husbandry and they also have opportunities for jobs and livelihoods, staffing the safari camps and conservancy operations. Conservancies are igniting the development of physical and social amenities in the rural communities where they exist:
They are estimated to directly benefit 930,000 households while providing job opportunities to over 4,500 conservancy employees while more than 206 staff are employed by the conservancy regional associations
What is the Value for the Tourist?
Less Congestion
Most of them offer low volume, high wildlife experience. A conservancy safari offers a private and more exclusive wildlife viewing experience. Most have controlled development of accommodation facilities – an average of 1 room per 700 acres, and 1 vehicle per 1400 acres.
Hence visitors in the conservancies enjoy more privacy, more nature, more wildlife, and greater service
Diversity and Richer Experience
Conservancies are not subject to the restrictions in the National Parks, which are managed by strict and rigid legislation.
Conservancies are able to offer a diverse range of activities such as night game drives, escorted nature walks, bike tours, horse riding, and camel treks.
Interactions with the local communities allow visitors to experience the cultures and customs of the host communities
Style and Luxury
Conservancies not only offer diversity in services; they are also leading in style and standards of accommodation. Some of the most stylish and luxurious camps and lodges are found in the private and community conservancies
Contact Us for more details on safari itineraries in Kenyan conservancies