| dc.description.abstract | This consultancy was undertaken by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) for
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), with a goal of preparing a basis for strenghtening of
Community Based Natural Resource Management groups (CBNRM) in the Maasai Mara - Serengeti
Ecosystem (MSE). The specific objectives were: to conduct an inventory and SWOT analysis of
CBNRM groups; prepare guidelines for engagement of CBNRM groups (in Wildlife Management
Areas and Conservancies); and to identify and document for replication CBNRM best practices. The
core natural resources considered in this study were in the sectors of forestry, wildlife and water
resources. In addition, other natural resources considered were bee keeping, eco-tourism, fisheries,
mining and agriculture. Other institutions involved in the consultancy were Maseno University, Kenya
Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), all based in
Kenya, and Tanzania Wildlife Research Instiute (TWRI) based in Arusha, Tanzania.
Methods used in this study involved literature reviews and field surveys carried out from 15th to 21st
August 2010 in the MSE. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain primary data. Pre-determined
Focus Group Discussion (FGD) question guide with relevant themes and sub-themes was administered
to Locally Influencial Persons (LIPs) and key informants. SWOT analysis was conducted on the groups
and beneficiaries. Finally, an assessment was carried out on capacities and training gaps of the various
groups.An inventory of the CBNRM groups revealed a total of 26 active groups involved in water resources
management with 8 groups located in Mara and 18 groups located in Serengeti. With regard to ecotourism
groups, a total of 24 active groups were identified within the MSE, with Mara hosting 22
groups and Serengeti having 2 groups. In wildlife conservation, a total of 12 groups were identified
with 11 in the Mara and 1 in Serengeti. Forestry sector had 22 groups of which 17 were located in Mara
and 5 in Serengeti. Bee keeping had 4 groups which were all based in Mara. Under landuse, there were
9 groups all based in Mara. In the energy sector, there were 3 groups of which 2 were in Mara and 1 in
Serengeti. In mining, 2 groups were identified in Mara and 1 group in Serengeti.
An analysis of the CBNRM groups revealed that the levels of education for most officials was primary
school education (45.8%) or no formal education (8.3%) indicating that traditional systems played a
major role in management of natural resources. Results further revealed that CBNRM groups within the
MSE faced a wide range of challenges. In forest management the main challenges were limited
knowledge (66.7%) and ownership (33.3%). In water resources, poor water quality, inadequate quantity
and knowledge on how to improve the management strategy and degradation of catchment areas were
cited as the main challenges. In wildlife resources, human-wildlife conflict (54.5%) was the main
challenge while fire outbreaks (25%) posed the least threat. The main policy constraints facing the
CBNRM groups within the MSE were: that the existing policies on natural resources management were
not widely accepted (41.7%); lack of specific policy implementers (21.4%); lack of power to enforce
the policies (21.4%); and conflicting policy intentions (46.7%).SWOT analysis on the existing CBNRM groups within the MSE revealed that most groups in the MSE
have a legal mandate (87.5% registered) with elaborate constitutions and have a monitoring and
evaluation system in place (93.3%). The main weaknesses identified include weak financial base with a
heavy dependence on donor funding, inadequate information on key policies, laws, bylaws and
regulations. The major opportunities include a diversity of abundant natural resources, available landuse
options, rich cultural and social environment, improved collaboration with the government and
private sector, improved social security and welfare. There are also opportunities in international
conventions and treaties. The main threats are global warming/ climate change, diseases and epidemics competition in resource utilization, conflicting sectoral polices and laws, group sustainability, poverty
and environmental degradation.
The main capacity building needs within the MSE are sensitization on natural resource management
best practices; management skills in book-keeping and preparation of management plans; training in
Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) techniques; training on livelihood skills and sensitization on
policies, laws, legislations and village by-laws.Within the MSE some CBNRM groups manifested best practices in the following areas: benefit sharing
with improved socio-eonomic benefits, had governance structures in place, had manifested behavioral
change and put measures in place to protect the environment. One of the CBNRM groups which
embraced best practices is the Kolong Cultural Village in Mara which had developed programmes in
biogas production from cow dung, tree seedling nursery and was also constructing a borehole for water
supply besides their ecotourism activities. The second group is Olare – Orok Motorogi Conservancy
also in Mara which had taken up projects in making hay-dung briquettes to supply local communities
with alternative energy sources. In addition, it had initiated outreach programmes e.g. Koyiaki Guiding
School which trains Game Rangers and Tour Guides as well as projects in water, health, roads and
bursaries for needy children. Though new, the Mara North Conservancy has initiated programmes that
directly benefit the communities, while Olalui Community Forest Association (CFA) and Dupoto have
successful projects in tree planting and forest conservation within the Transmara District of Kenya.
Within the Serengeti ecosystem, the Ikona WMA practiced good governance with well laid out benefit
sharing mechanisms and equity. Robanda Joint Venture Association manages village land through a
committee with a wide range of benefits to the community. Finally, the Kikundi cha walezi watoto
yatima na mazingira magumu, Kinesi-Serengeti embraced issues of environmental management
through use of solar jikos, organic farming, fish farming and brick making using local materials without
use of wood for curing by drying the bricks in the sun besides their normal programme of tree planting The formation process and functions of a trans-boundary NRM committee is proposed, taking into
consideration variation of policies and approaches especially in wildlife management. This study
proposes the formation of a CBNRM network for conservancies and WMAs. The network will tackle
transboundary issues related to wildlife e.g poaching, migration of wildlife, management regimes and
fires.
Transboundary guidelines for engagement of WMAs and Conservancies have been prepared and entail
the guiding principles of CBNRMs such as benefit sharing arrangements, the size of group that can
better manage the resource and the decision making process The main recommendations from this study for strengthening existing CBNRM groups are:
• Support CBNRM groups in creating networks at trans-boundary level on NRM issues to
enhance sharing of information and experiences on best practices.
• Carry out training/clinic workshops for CBNRM groups to improve their skills on good
management practices including financial and administrative management, conflict resolution
mechanism, entrepreneurship, negotiation skills, fund raising and benefit sharing.
• Conduct sensitization sessions to raise awareness on the significance of environmental
conservation and sustainable resource utilization.
• Explore best practices from successful stories, locally, regionally and intenationally through
study tours.
• Sensitize CBNRM groups on the principles and importance of cost sharing (needs and
advantages) through the contribution of more resources (cash and in kind) to various services
(e.g. monitoring and enforcement) that are essential for the long term sustainability of natural
resource management efforts. | en_US |
