quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201209051336.html


Kenya: Urgently Revise the Wildlife Law


By Michael Gachanja, 5 September 2012

opinion


Human-wildlife conflict has been on the rise recently in Kenya. In June 20th this year, six (6) lions were killed after they strayed from the Nairobi National Park and attacked and killed livestock in Kitengela area. This was followed by demonstration witnessed in July 2012 around Amboseli National Park and the City of Nairobi by the Maasai community; and the trampling of a woman by an elephant in the Mara that almost halted the tourism business in early August this year.

The latter resulted in the community around Maasai Mara Game Reserve blocking vehicles from accessing the game reserve. In all cases, the residents claim that they are not duly compensated for their loss whenever attacked hence the threat to 'finish' the predators if the owners (seen as the government) do not keep them in the parks.

The conflicts has partly be been attributed to the lack of incentives and clearly defined benefit sharing mechanisms for communities living around wildlife-inhabited areas.Since dynamics of human coexistence with nature and particularly wildlife have changed due to increased population and fast growth in economic development resulting from urbanization, policies and laws are needed to keep up with the pace.

The question is, would the enactment of a new law provide a solution to human-wildlife conflict? The general consensus among stakeholders is that the delayed enactment of a new law could be a major contributing factor to the conflicts. This being the case, we must therefore fast track the enactment and implementation of a new wildlife law.

While acnowledging that a new law will not on its own stop human wildlife conflicts, a law that articulates the following issues will significanly improve the situation. Such a law will be one that Provides clear rules and regulations to guide the process and procedure for benefit sharing and generation of revenue;

Mainstreams the needs and aspirations of landowners and communities in wildlife areas into wildlife conservation planning and decision making process;

Ensures greater protection and conservation of wildlife outside protected areas;

Provides deterrent penalties to wildlife poaching;

Provides incentives to communities to be engaged in wildlife conservation;

Strengthens governance at local level by removing substantial regulatory functions at the top and bringing such functions to counties.

Provides local governance structures such as formation of County Wildlife Conservation Committees to undertake the facilitation of user rights and licensing, in line with the decentralization process required by the Constitution;

Creates local governance structures that will participate at the County level in land use planning initiatives and in consultation with all relevant stakeholders with particular regard to critical wildlife habitats, corridors and dispersal areas for the better management and conservation of wildlife;

Creates institutions (local and national) that are consistent with the Constitution and that would help reduce institutional conflicts in regard to mandates.

Efforts to review the outdated Wildlife Law of 1975 has been on-going since 2004. What is worrying is that a lot of financial and time has been spent on the process (especially the last two years) and 8 eight years down the line, the Government has not completed the process by enacting a new law. It is Vital and urgent that the Revised Wildlife Law is put in the Public Domain and on obtaining good public support is enacted.

Michael K Gachanja is the Executive Director of the East African Wild Life Society

• benefit sharing and generation of revenue …
  
• the needs and aspirations of landowners and communities …
  
• incentives to communities to be engaged in wildlife conservation …
  
• removing substantial regulatory functions at the top …
  
• local governance structures …
  
• user rights and licensing” ... and
  
• a decentralization process
  

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
Hunting will not reopen in Kenya.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
ain't gonna happen. read the book "Game Changer" dealing with wildlife issues, especially in Kenya. anti hunting NGO's, especially IFAW are the financial tail that wags the dog there.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
ain't gonna happen. read the book "Game Changer" dealing with wildlife issues, especially in Kenya. anti hunting NGO's, especially IFAW are the financial tail that wags the dog there.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Kenya will stick with the status quo as they have done for decades.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Kenya stopped bird hunting safaris several years ago... no hunting is allowed in Kenya.

Manuel,
I was in Kenya five years ago and outside of the parks and a few private properties, there is little game left from what I could see.

quote:

Originally posted by ManuelM:
Out of curiosity, with all the years that have passed, even if Kenya did reopened hunting would the hunting there be any good?