Biodiversity and wind energy in Kenya: Revealing landscape and wind turbine perceptions in the world’s wildlife capital

Abstract

People vary in their perceptions of wind turbines. Perceptions have been well-documented in European and North American studies and have been attributed to constructs like place attachment. Genius loci, or “spirit of a place,” is an ancient Roman idea that has new relevance in the study of landscape perceptions, including perceptions of wind turbines. As wind energy development expands to developing countries, new studies of public perceptions in unique cultural landscapes are required. We surveyed visitors to Nairobi National Park about their perceptions of the park landscape and the six-turbine Ngong Hills wind farm. Two complementary theories were used to analyze perceptions: place attachment and genius loci. The Ngong Hills Wind Farm had a slightly positive effect on the visitors who saw them. Additional turbine development would have no effect on their visitor experience but additional urban growth would have a very negative effect. Responses show that place attachment and genius loci explain aspects of visitor perceptions of the Nairobi National Park landscape. The human aspects of the landscape, including wind turbines and the Nairobi skyline, interact with the natural elements and the visitors’ own experiences to create a distinct genius loci and evokes feelings of place attachment.