SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION:

Some Lessons from Mt. Kenya National Park and Reserve

Joseph K. MburuKenya Embassy

Rome, ItalyIDM, 2005 FAO HQ

LOCATION

Kenya

KENYA NATIONAL PARK AND RESERVE

• Covers 2,700 km2 of which 18 km2 is plantation forest.

• Dry upland forest covers the lower slopes while true mountain forest begins at an altitude of 2,000 m. A belt of bamboo forest begins at an altitude of 2,500 m.

• The forest is home to a variety of animals (colobus monkey, elephants, etc) and rare plant species.

Colobus monkey

Elephants

Continued

• It is one of 5 important water catchments in Kenya.

• The area is one of the highest potential areas in Kenya and is densely populated.

• About 800,000 people live within a 10 km diameter of the boundary of the National Park and Reserve.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE OF THE NATIONAL PARK AND

RESERVE• In 1990s, one of the six world wide Global

Atmospheric Watch Stations was established here to monitor global climate change.

• In 1997 the Park and National Reserve were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

NATIONAL PARK AND RESERVE AREA

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

A. ACCESS TO FOREST PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES

• Dual management by Kenya Wildlife Service and Forest Department has allowed access to forest products like firewood by farmers living next to the park and reserve.

Continued

• With the re-introduction of the “shamba system” (non-residential cultivation), farmers are allowed to grow food crops in forests while tending tree seedlings for up to three years derive direct benefits.

B. ESTABLISHMENT OF “NYAYO TEA ZONE”

• Establishment of tea buffer zone between settlement areas and government forests offers employment opportunities to farmers.

• Also been open up due to road network that has been constructed to transport tea and other materials.

C. INITIATION OF THE MT. KENYA PILOT PROJECT FOR

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• The Environmental Conservation Component of this 7-year, USD 25.7 million IFAD-funded project seeks to reduce poverty and improved food security and income levels of farmers by promoting more effective use of natural resources.

D. CONSTRUCTION OF MOATS/FENCES TO SEPARATE

SETTLEMENTS FROM WILDLIFE

• A major concern of the farmers adjacent to the National Pak and Reserve has been the frequent destruction of crops by wildlife. Government, together with private sector and development partners, has initiated the process of construction of moats and fences to contain the wildlife. The local people are employed during their installation and maintenance.

E. SUPPLY OF FOOD AND OTHER SERVICES TO

TOURISTIC FACILITIES

• The local farmers and traders are well placed to supply food and other goods and services to lodges, hotels, camps, etc. that cater for the needs of the tourists. This increases the economic empowerment of the local residents creating a better disposition to the National Park and Reserve.

Thank You