Wildlife Land Use and The Great Experiment

Summary

The rangelands of Africa are being degraded rapidly by increasing human and domestic animal populations and man’s land use practices. Wildlife numbers and diversity are decreasing everywhere except in parks. In Kenya, wildlife has been reduced by more than 50% in 20 years. The inherent strengths of natural ecosystems are outlined and the damage done by man’s farming systems described. Two examples are given of pastoralist peoples whose land has been degraded, almost without them realising it. The value of wildlife and its proper utilization in the rehabilitation of the rangelands, and the economic wellbeing of the pastoralist are discussed, based on the experiences of the author. The restoration of hunting rights would greatly increase the return on wildlife utilization and ensure its preservation.