Perceptions on the Status of Livelihoods Among Communities in Lower Tana Delta Conservancy in Tana River County Along the Kenyan coast

Abstract

Human effort towards establishment of conservancies is important for the conservation of biodiversity. Perceptions of the local communities towards the Lower Tana Delta Conservancy (LTDC) effort for livelihoods improvement in Tana River County along the Kenyan coast are not well understood. The key objective of the study was to determine perceptions among the local communities living in Chara, Ozi and Konemansa Locations on LTDC towards their livelihood improvements in Tana River County. The study was conducted through a randomized study design using semi-structured questionnaire, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussion (FGDs). The research was conducted between December 2015 and February 2016. The participants who were interviewed came from 207 households, 15 key informants who consisted of some conservancy board members, community leaders and elders. R statistical software was used to analyze the categorical data sets. There were significant differences on the participants’ perceptions on LTDC contribution towards institutional governance, benefits of the conservancy to the community. Overall the results showed differential perceptions on contributions of LTDC towards livelihood improvements of local communities in Tana River County and suggest that the establishment of the conservancy as a resource has had accrued benefits to different communities living in the conservancy.

Keywords: Lower Tana Delta Conservancy; Community Livelihoods; Institutional governance