Youth Attitudes Towards Wildlife and Conservation in Kenya
This study explores the attitudes of Kenyan youth towards wildlife and conservation by investigating their knowledge and perceptions. Through various research methods and field study locations, the findings reveal a range of beliefs on topics such as wildlife, conservation, poaching, and the role of rangers. The study highlights differing viewpoints among youth, indicating the complexity of engaging this demographic in wildlife and conservation efforts.
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Presentation Transcript
UNDERSTANDING YOUTH ATTITUDES TOWARDS WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION
WHY DO THE STUDY NOW? KENYA 2009 POPULATION CENSUS
100% 0% 100% rejection adoption
STUDY DESIGN DeskReview Focus Groups Key Informant Interviews School Debates Final Count 121 participants 75 pages of notes 40 drawings from participants A lot of energy, interest and excitement
FIELD STUDY LOCATIONS LAIKIPIA KAKAMEGA ABERDARE RANGES NAIROBI MAASAI MARA TSAVO, SAGALA, VOI
100% 0% 100% rejection adoption
KNOWLEDGE: WILDLIFE Only humans can care about wildlife therefore it s our responsibility Wildlife are a menace, nuisance & a cause of famine NORM Majority view: The big 5, rare animals The Big 5 & rare animals Negative deviants Positive deviants Wildlife is Wildlife is competition for grazing land
KNOWLEDGE: CONSERVATION Conservation is an elite club for mzungus and the rich I m proud of our forest because the forest makes US NORM Majority view: The big 5, rare animals forests and rivers planting trees, protecting Positive deviants Negative deviants I want to get involved & look for opportunities to do so
YOUTH ATTITUDES: POACHING = KILLING NATURE can be bad, can be good POACHING HUNTING SELF-PRESERVATION Mostly justifiable from the perspective that human life is a priority Might be legal with proper paperwork, certificates Sometimes can be justified Always illegal Never justifiable
YOUTH ATTITUDES TO RANGERS POSITIVE FEATURES NEGATIVE FEATURES Brave Cool gear Treat animals well Stable salary Greedy Corrupt Abuse power Protect poachers
KNOWLEDGE: WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION OVERLAP Elephants Lions Water catchment Fencing conservancies Planting Trees National heritage Human/Wildlife conflict Bee Keeping Rhinos Rangeland management Littering Pollution
KNOWLEDGE: WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION DISCONNECT Elephants Lions Water catchment Fencing conservancies Planting Trees National heritage CONSERVATION Human/ Wildlife conflict Bee Keeping Rhinos Rangeland management Littering Pollution
KNOWLEDGE: WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION DISCONNECT CONSERVATION Specialisation and fragmentation of the conservation field has taken it further and further away from young people s understanding They view conservation based on their holistic experience of nature and their environment which is all around them, in multiple dimensions; and from the perspective of how it can benefit them
CONSERVATION ACTORS IN THE EYES OF THE YOUTH Wealthy Youth Tourists Hustlers Conservancyowners BENEFITING Insiders Rangers Conservancy Managers Conservation workers All Other Youth
ATTITUDES TOWARDS CONSERVATION BY SEGMENT Conditional Conservationists Non- Philanthropic Conservationists Self-starting Conservationists Conservationists
Planting and watering trees Weeding of trees Fundraising and advocacy activities Taking water to animals during droughts Collecting litter Growing silk worms Guiding tours, introducing visitors to wildlife Participating in conservation activities, e.g., a marathon or a Rhino Charge Going camping and paying camping fees that are used to pay park expenses Reporting poachers and suspicious activities Feeding wild birds 0% 100% adoption
Everywhere we went there almost all youth who were passionate about the environment they live in that to them is conservation Conservation as we think about it delivers neither fun nor money & locks out almost all youth There are motivated conservation champions out there but they lack validation, opportunity & direction
