Conflicts over land use exist all over the world. In semi-arid parts of Africa, for example, pastoralists have by no means the same interests as safari operators and tourists, or indeed as local settled farmers. Moreover, these conflicts of interest are likely to intensify as rural poverty and dependence on land increases. This ITDG Working Paper examines the impact of wildlife conservation policies on the lives of two communities in Kenya for whom living with wildlife is a daily issue. These communities found very little trade-off in terms of enhanced opportunities derived from local wildlife conservation strategies. Many complex cultural and social issues are raised by a shift to cultivation and other means of survival for traditionally pastoralist peoples, none of which currently promote beneficial interactions with wildlife conservation. The paper presents detailed analysis of the two case studies, finding that prevailing wildlife conservation policies had neither strengthened livelihoods of the local people nor signifcantly conserved wildlife. The authors go on to identify desirable and feasible criteria for wildlife conservation projects to strenghthen livelihoods and reduce poverty among pastoralist and agropastoralist communities and conclude by offering a model for future collaborative ecotourism projects in socially fragmented part-adjacent communities.

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