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Incorporating social-ecological complexities into conservation policy
Peadar Brehony1, Peter Tyrrell2,3, John Kamanga2
1Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Biological Conservation
|August 25, 2020
Summary
The Social-Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) identified seven barriers to wildlife consumptive utilization policies in Kenya. Game farming faced fewer barriers than game ranching, highlighting the framework's utility in conservation policy development.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Science
- Environmental Policy
- Social-Ecological Systems Analysis
Background:
- Policymakers require comprehensive information for effective conservation policies, yet evidence often overlooks social-ecological system complexities.
- The Social-Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) offers a structured approach to understanding natural resource dynamics by integrating social and ecological components.
- Limited application of the SESF in conservation planning hinders assessment of policy-induced social and ecological consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply the SESF to identify barriers for implementing wildlife consumptive utilization policies in Kenya.
- To analyze the social-ecological system associated with wildlife consumptive utilization in Kenya.
- To evaluate the SESF's utility in revealing potential policy implementation challenges.
Main Methods:
- Developed a conceptual model of the Kenyan wildlife social-ecological system using secondary data and expert review.
- Analyzed interactions between first and second-tier variables within the SESF to identify focal action situations.
- Identified and categorized barriers to wildlife consumptive utilization policy implementation.
Main Results:
- Seven significant barriers were identified for implementing wildlife consumptive utilization policies in Kenya.
- Game ranching necessitates substantial investment in monitoring, regulation, training, market development, research, equity, and devolved ownership.
- Game farming presented fewer implementation barriers compared to game ranching.
Conclusions:
- The SESF is a valuable tool for assessing potential social and ecological barriers in conservation policy development.
- The framework aids in understanding how policy implementation can be hindered by complex interactions within social-ecological systems.
- Synthesizing cross-disciplinary data required for SESF implementation presents a notable challenge.
Keywords:
AfricaConsumptive useGame ranchingSocial-Ecological Systems FrameworkSustainabilityWildlifeMore Related Videos
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