Analyzing the performance of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) within wildlife conservancies in the Maasai Mara and Northern Rangelands of Regions of Kenya

Abstract

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a form of natural resource management where, in theory, local communities are given more control of how to manage and distribute the benefits of natural resources in their communities. CBNRM has been applied in different regions and contexts, however it is generally perceived by policy makers as an alternative to previous, top-down resource management approaches. What are the key challenges faced by group conservancies in the Maasai Mara Region and community conservancies in Northern Rangelands of Kenya? How does the local context (e.g., governance structures and historical context) contribute to these challenges? What are the socio-economic impacts of CBNRM on local communities? How have conservancies responded to these challenges and what is the way forward? As I explore these questions, I will also identify the similarities and differences between group and community conservancies in the two study areas.