Esther Gitonga

Linking Conservation, Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: an Analysis of Laikipia Wildlife Forum Using the Policy Arrangement Approach Esther Gitonga

Increased environmental awareness has resulted in significant growth in the number of initiatives focusing on balancing conservation goals and the socio-economic welfare of communities in developing countries. This trend has created a need to better understand not only the institutional structure of these initiatives but also how to and who should measure their impacts. This book presents the report of a research that sought to gain insights into LWF: a community based(CB) wildlife conservation forum in Kenya. Using the Policy Arrangement Approach(PAA), continuity and change over time in the collaborative interactions between conservation, tourism and poverty alleviation actors are analyzed. Focus is given to how PAA dimensions i.e Actors, Rules, Discourses and Resources, interact with each other and how their interaction influences the policy issues an organization is set to address. Further the definition and quantification of success as perceived by LWF is explored. This book is a good beginning for those who would like to understand CB conservation institutions. It should offer useful lessons that can be applied to achieve a balance between conservation and development goals