Conflicts over resources: Saiwa Swamp National Park (Kenya) and its environs

Abstract

This paper examines conflicts in Saiwa Swamp National Park and adjacent households. The conflicts centre on poaching of park resources and destruction of park ecology on the one hard and, the spread of diseases, crop damage by wildlife and loss of land by adjacent households on the other. The conflicts are primarily due to socio-economic constraints in park-adjacent areas following government policies which are irresponsive to the livelihood needs of the local community. To fill up the missing link between policy and practice, participatory approach to conservation is emphasized.