Land Use Changes and Its Effects on Wildlife Conservation in the Amboseli Ecosystem, Kenya

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@article{1725035,
      author = {George Ekisa},
      title = {Land Use Changes and Its Effects on Wildlife Conservation in the Amboseli Ecosystem, Kenya},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {5},
      pages = {2363-2370},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1725035.pdf},
      abstract = {This paper reviews how changes in land use around Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya have affected wildlife and its conservation. The park covers only about 392 square kilometres, while the wider ecosystem of about 8,500 square kilometres is made up mainly of Maasai group ranches on which wildlife depends for grazing, water and movement during much of the year. Published studies, aerial census results and management documents were reviewed and analysed by theme. Since the 1970s the group ranches have been subdivided into individual parcels, pastoralists have settled permanently, and irrigated farming has spread around the swamps fed by springs from Mount Kilimanjaro. Fences, settlements and farms have reduced the area open to wildlife and blocked routes between the park and neighbouring areas in Kenya and Tanzania. Where subdivision and settlement have taken place, wildlife numbers have fallen sharply, while communal rangelands have kept more wildlife. Loss of dispersal areas has also concentrated elephants and other animals inside the park, contributing to woodland loss, and has increased conflict between people and wildlife over crops, livestock and water. Droughts, such as that of 2009, cause heavy losses where animals cannot move freely. The paper presents a framework linking drivers, land use change, ecological effects and conservation outcomes, and recommends land-use zoning, protection of wildlife corridors, support for community conservancies and lease schemes, and fair sharing of tourism income with landowners.},
      keywords = {Amboseli, group ranches, human-Wildlife Conflict, land Subdivision, wildlife Corridors},
      month = {November},
  }