Supporting successful community conservation projects in coastal counties

Abstract

Creation of economic opportunities for coastal communities in the area of natural resource exploitation was a significant focus during KCDP. Efforts to develop the opportunities included: (i) promotion of environmentally sustainable nature-based livelihoods such as tourism and fisheries; (ii) equitable sharing of revenues from natural resource-based ventures; and (iii) investment in rural micro, small and medium- sized enterprises. In the natural resource sector, the KCDP worked to improve the management and regeneration of natural resources and biodiversity of the coastal and marine environments. These efforts were strengthened by the establishment of a sound governance framework, including spatial planning and land capability mapping, integrated coastal management, and compliance with regulations on environmental and social safeguards. KCDP's potential to serve as a showcase for the benefits of conserving natural resources was one of the main guiding factors. A key attribute to achieving KCDP's conservation aspects was ensuring the documentation and dissemination of successful community- based initiatives so as to have an inventory available for use, adoption or replication by coastal communities, County and National Governments. In the past conservation of biodiversity was carried out by establishing parks and zoos and creating strict laws regarding the use of wild plants and animals. However, over time, awareness has grown regarding the close links between biodiversity loss and human livelihoods and poverty. It is now commonly accepted that the people who live in close contact with, and are dependent upon, wild plants and animals for their survival must be fully involved in all efforts to find solutions to address biodiversity loss. The latter forms the principle of what has evolved into Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), which is a paradigm shift in conservation and natural resource management. The goals of CBNRM are to increase resource user participation in Natural Resource Management (NRM) decisions and benefits by restructuring the power relations between government and communities through the transfer of management authority to local level organizations. The CBNRM is compatible with the International treaties as it has a framework for integrating with economic and social development. Participation in development is a process through which people with a legitimate interest (stakeholders) influence and share control over development plans and decisions and resources that affect them. CBNRM shifts the focus of conservation from nature as protected through exclusive state control to nature as managed through inclusive, participatory, community-based endeavors. To make this shift effective, Community Based Conservation CBC devolves natural resource management to local communities and hence is often referred to as community based natural resource management. In view of the opportunities that community conservation presents for Natural Resource Management, the KCDP commissioned a consultancy, whose objective was to support the generation of evidence on the successful community based natural resource based sub-projects. These included community based subprojects on conservation and alternative livelihood activities, conservation/ climate smart agricultural, fisheries technologies, among others, that have contributed to the sustainable management of natural resource base in the Coast region of Kenya. The aim of this was to disseminate such information for purposes of wider adoption and uptake by other community groups in the coast region and in other similar environments.