Abstract
The seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form a firm foundation for livelihoods and ecologi-cal sustainability in biodiversity conservation. Of the 17 SDGs, five of them focus on promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG 12), promotion of actions at all levels to deal with climate change (SDG 13), protecting and restoring all terrestrial ecosystems to end biodiversity loss (SDG 15), achieving peaceful and inclusive societies, the rule of law, effective and capable institutions (SDG 16) and strengthening and enhancing the means of implementation and global partnership for sustainable development (SDG 17) form the bond within which other SDGs coalesce with the goal of attaining sustainability of planetary ecosystems. The Kenyan and Tanzanian constitutions also are aligned to the achievement of livelihood sustainability. The fragmentation of the Mau-Mara ecosystem and consequent loss of wildlife habitat, the occurrence of droughts due to fluctuating rainfall patterns, loss of woody vegetation, commercial agricultural land use, population growth, increase in human settlement, and associated poaching are some of the factors responsible for shrinking wildlife resources in the Mara. Climate change poses a serious challenge for the Mara due to its adverse effects on temperature and rainfall patterns. Several recommendations have been suggested in this paper regarding different ways of addressing these human-wildlife conflicts. They include growing wildlife as a cash crop with a bonus to the local community and collaboration with the private sector to enhance the free movement of livestock while also freeing space within wildlife corridors, among others. This paper attempts to examine how the Maasai pastoral livelihoods are changing and the strategies adopted to cope with climate change and competing land uses in the Mara ecosystem. Suggestions are also made on some practical solutions that could contribute to sustainable pastoral livelihood systems in the area if implemented. This paper relies on literature search and review of various research works carried out in the Mara-Serengeti to highlight key issues involving livelihoods’ sustainability in the Mara ecosystem. The research revealed the threat posed by climate change and underlined the need for adaptation ensure livelihood sustainability.
Highlights
The objectives of this study were to: highlight the dangers faced by the Mau, the Mara River and its ecosystem, examine the causes of dwindling wildlife numbers in the Mara Serengeti ecosystem, find out ways of reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and suggest possible actions for ensuring sustainability
Religion, and the availability of wildlife corridors were more pro-wildlife conservation (Homewood and Brockington, 1999; Dybas, 2011; Galvin et al, 2006; Baird, 2015; Goldman, 2009). This is a review paper using literature review or secondary data to address problems under study and the results provided in written text
Literature review enabled the application of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and Property Rights Theory which relate closely with the livelihood systems to guide the outcomes of the study in the Mara
Summary
The objectives of this study were to: highlight the dangers faced by the Mau, the Mara River and its ecosystem, examine the causes of dwindling wildlife numbers in the Mara Serengeti ecosystem, find out ways of reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and suggest possible actions for ensuring sustainability. The two theoretical approaches adopted were the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach/Framework and the Property Rights theory. A livelihood is sustainable when it is resilient and can stand on its own without depending on others while not undermining the natural resource base. The theory has been applied in the study to understand how the pastoralists using available resources, and in the context of climate variability and change, can maintain sustainable livelihood systems. The Property Rights theory explains how the right to use, sell or transfer land can impact the general conservation and degradation of the land, depending on the benefits individuals and communities expect to receive from the investment. The Mara ecosystem is characterised by communal, private and public land tenure systems, each with its strengths and shortcomings and implications regarding resource conservation, the need to Oluoko-Odingo and Irandu (2021) / J. sustain. There is, conflict between theory and practice as the two theories appear to be people-centred, while the practice prioritises wildlife conservation
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