Jun 19 2008
The juxtaposition of conservation publicity and tourism spin-doctoring
Paula has kindly provided us with links to the BBC story on wildlife poisoning. You can click here and here for TV and radio respectively.
I have a few people who keep an eye on things pantherine in the media. One of them is Bertie, who, in a comment here raised the same concern that Paula referred to earlier today. Namely that press coverage of the challenges facing Kenya’s wildlife could very well discourage people from visiting Kenya. To follow this argument through, less visitors would mean less revenue is generated by wildlife, and consequently kenyans will be less tolerant of the (massive) losses to their livelihoods that they have to endure, living with wildlife on their land. consequently, it could be argued, there would be greater persecution of wildlife, and less funding for wildlife conservation, which would spiral some wild populations towards near extinction very quickly.
There may be some truth to this assertion. However it seems that there are very few kenyan conservation projects or institutions whose liquidity is entirely tied to tourism. The Mara conservancy should be mentioned as an example of an area that is totally visitor-dependent (and they still need your support by the way). I believe KWS to some extent relies on funding from the central Kenyan government coffers, which in turn depend on tourism. Other than these two examples and some other small operations, the connection between tourism revenue and “on the ground”, “in the dirt” wildlife conservation is not all that direct. Or to put it differently, its not as direct as it should be.
What to do? Well, for start we can pose difficult questions to the larger hotel chains that operate inside kenyan protected areas… what is African Safari Club doing to support the widlife that its healthy profits rely on? What is the Serena hotel group doing to conserve kenya’s wildlife heritage that has made it one of the most successful hotel chains in east africa? These questions are to some extent rhetorical, but go ahead and comment if you have a response.
For the record, I think Kenya is a beautiful place, full of both conservation and tourism potential. Its my home. But conservationsts and Kenyans should expect more from some local tourism companies.
(this was taken on the plains near where I live, a few days ago)
Technorati : conservation, lions, media
20 responses so far
Good points made here. I am aware of an example from the Mara Triangle, where — I was told — one of the partners at Kichwa Tembo has land on the adjacent piece of land above the escarpment in Transmara District and is developing it for a eucalyptus plantation, precisely where wildlife including zebras, buffaloes and elephants disperse. In Amboseli, there is now a scramble by tour operators for land to the southeast of the park, such that movement corridors are being blocked and conflicts with the local communities are on the increase. With such examples of the lack of joined-up, big-picture thinking, is it any wonder that many people in the tourism business fail to see the need to contribute towards the conservation of the resource upon which they depend?
I think that the tourist industry would argue that they pay huge amounts of tax to the government and it is therefore the government’s duty to protect the wildlife. We all know where that leads to - more 4wd duty free cars, trips oversees, blahbidiblahbiblah.
I think a bit of solid research on to how much tax is paid into the govt. from the tourist industry and where it is allocated to might help justify something solid here. You should also seriously consider writing to the two new Ministers in the respective Ministries: Balala who is now Min of Tourism and Noah Wekesa (a vet and chairman for the steering committee for the Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare). Both are very approachable people and if nothing can get done while they are in these comfortable chairs, nothing ever will be.
And now that you have got me going, I also think that it is high time that the wildlife media moguls started coughing up a little cash. They sell more when they have a nice big sensational piece like your poor lions dying left right and centre. I know Nat Geo have started up the fund for the Amboselli Lions which is great - I also know a lot of the material has definitly come from Lion Guardians so am curious to know how much the project got?
Most lodges here in the Mara believe that their guests paying park entrance fee is enough and that they do not need to do anything extra to conserve the wildlife and its surroundings. Some even believe they have a right to destroy it.
National Geographic were here to film a piece on the crisis we were facing in late February. This piece still hasn’t aired yet. We hosted them, we showed them round and we got them some incredible footage. But that is all they seem to care about, they are not interested in getting the piece out in time so that maybe they could help us in raising money. It seems we will get absolutely nothing from the piece.
Keith, thanks for the contribution. I think I would be interested to know from these developers whether they have clearance from the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya. The answer to this would provide a good starting point: if they do have clearance, yet the area has been identified by scientists as an important wildlife dispersal area, then one would need to find out how the clearance was issued. If no NEMA assessment was made then I would like to know why not.
As for the developer possibly also being affiliated with a wildlife lodge in the Mara (Kichwa Tembo) then his / her investment in a eucalyptus plantation next door might be unethical, but not necessarily illegal. Each would require a different lobbying approach.
The scramble for territory south of ANP is very disturbing as the results of my study of lion ranges, and Leiden university’s research into the amboseli park lions, show that lions depend on both the park and surrounding maasai land. I very much hope that the new Amboseli General Management Plan will deal with some of this. I believe its in draft form still?
DP and WD,
It seems the gloves are off, in fact at least one gauntlet got well and truly thrown on the ground. Let me tackle this one at a time:
1. I’ve heard that argument about taxes being paid to the government and subsequent expectation that the mandated national wildlife management authority should protect wildlife. It seems a reasonable argument, but in this case the same taxpayers should hold KWS accountable much more rigorously than they do. It seems like a good idea, to write to ministers. Although to be quite honest, the way kenyan parliament has been operating over the last few days, its difficult to take any kenyan politicians seriously.
2. It seems that the Lion Guardians might benefit from the new NG grant that has been set up, as they fall squarely into the category of “conservation”. We should remember that this is a pan-african fund, so its area of impact will in the long term be more than just this small part of maasailand.
3. The Lion Guardians and Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project did contribute significantly to current public interest in the lion situation in maasailand. It might not be fair to say that the fund came about purely because of the Lion Guardians, as Dereck and others had been working towards setting this up for a number of years now.
4. I can understand your frustrations Will. I think sometimes because NG is such a large organisation, we as contributors fall between the cracks. Something happens somewhere between dust and cow dung of maasailand, and the editing suite in New York. I’ve learnt to be much more assertive with journalists, and to set clear pre-conditions to allowing them to film KLCP. Bottom line: media is a fickle beast. It can be very useful, but it can be a great waste of time and resources. If you’re being mistreated then tell the Naughty Gremlins to take a long walk on a shenzi pier.
[…] The juxtaposition of conservation publicity and tourism… …and some other small operations, the connection between tourism revenue … operate inside kenyan protected areas… what is African Safari Club […]
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The Nat Geo piece on the Lion Guardians aired in May.
[…] The juxtaposition of conservation publicity and tourism spin-doctoring Well, for start we can pose difficult questions to the larger hotel chains that operate inside kenyan protected areas… what is African Safari Club doing to support the widlife that its healthy profits rely on? … […]
If I may comment for a moment on the media? There’s a clear distinction to be drawn between bona fide news coverage and editorial/infotainment material for a branded channel/publisher.
The former should be assisted in good faith; news is news. Any original self-owned footage fee should be negotiated but don’t sign over all rights to any broadcaster, license them or limit the term of use.
You would be justified in charging for services provided to the latter but you will receive no participation in the profits generated from the product of your services (other than you may be legitimately deemed to be an author of the exploited property; eg. works demonstrably developed and/or derived from your work). This is not an accident (and it is worth noting that independent documentary makers are payed a relative pittance by broadcasters and the practice is not exclusive to NG). Charitable initiatives, however welcome, are a tax-deductible, and relatively inexpensive way to further enhance their brand and potentially secure exclusivity of access to grist for the ongoing publishing/broadcast mill. Do ask whether taking the King’s (Kenya), Shilling means one is bound exclusively to NG’s greater broadcasting interests, it would be interesting to know. Your ability to pursue and/or challenge any conflict with, or breach of, your rights is directly proportional to the depth of your pockets which, be they deep as the Rift Valley, will not match those of your adversary. It ain’t called showBIZ for nothing. Hope this helps a little?
When I’m the absolutely final ever tourist to visit Kenya,
my own endangered species,
Last of the Tourist Mohicans,
Gawping, bleary-eyed and nonplussed at the sedated Hyrax and single juvenile Vervet peeling a satsuma
which will then comprise the total wildlife population “success” of the Maasai Mara.
I just know
I’ll look up to see,
tapping their feet and tutting with impatience,
three not terribly competent conservationists,
resenting my presence.
Since I have a questionable relationship with language and words, but still feel moved to address that conservationist competency issue so beautifully referenced by Wim, I transferred 50 dead presidents today, Seamus. My health insurance company pays a $50 incentive for having an annual medical checkup. I pondered this cheque a long while this evening when i picked it up from the mailbox, and it came to me that, even if I were endangered in some kind of way, my health would be no good to me were there not a healthy planet too. Or at least those prepared to dedicate their lives to attempts at the conservation of pockets of health.
This gets really to the heart of the conservation of Africa’s wildlife, in particular large carnivores. Yes the coverage is bad and could discourage people from coming which will have a negative effect on tourism, but to sweep it under the rug is even worse, its always better to get the bad news out in order to rally support for a solution as long as the reporting is sound and balanced and truthful. There is huge economic interest in the tourism in Kenya. Having lived in Kenya for four years in Laikipia I observed a general lack of concern among tour operators and those who are dependant on it over the state of Kenya’s wildlife , otherwise you would have heard the same outcry that was heard after the political violence. I am talking about people’s attitude not just the money they could contribute. There are a lot of people with their head in the sand!
Bertie
The Kenya stories on poisonings, and the need for action on a wide front, are bad news, but please please do not focus solely on Kenya and on lions. My students and I have seen lions and vultures poisoned in Uganda, and this time last year an entire clan of hyaenas was poisoned near the village of Kasenyi, in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Of course the huge symbolic significance of lions means that they get front and centre attention from the media and most everyone else, but at least with their biology involving multiple births and allosuckling, their numbers can rebound quickly if they get the chance. For hyaenas, with single births, and the guaranteed death of young if a dam dies, the rebound is much slower, if it occurs at all.
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In my previous response I said I thought the tourism industry in Kenya was lacking in their response to the lion population crash. It is wrong to use such a broad brush. I know many smaller companies that are very committed to conservation. Typical they started their business because of their interest in the wildlife of Kenya and they have contributed a great deal to their conservation. What bothers me is the attitude of so many of the larger companies who seem to want to squeeze every drop out of Kenya’s wildlife without putting much back in and they seem to be unwilling to use their influence to get the government to do something. Instead they are focused on building more and more lodges and surrounding a cheetah trying to eat its meal with 50 mini-buses. These are not conservation oriented business. They don’t see that the very foundation of their industry is disappearing.
They could take a lesson for Botswana where “less is more”; fewer tourists paying more for an incredible experience and worth the money.
Kenya is such a beautiful country, but the government and the big players don’t seem to understand that conservation is good for business. Let me rephrase that: conservation is vital for business.
Some amazing things have happened in South Africa in this regard. Farm and ranch lands are be converted back into natural ecosystems and stocked with wildlife. Why? Because you can make money in tourism and wildlife conservation. Some of these private reserves are becoming as well known as South Africa’s famous parks.
Bertie
Bertie - yes. That’s an important distinction to make. I think I was fairly careful in the post not to categorically condemn the entire tourism industry. I have met some responsible, conservation-minded operators.
My impression is that Kenya is heading away from abusive, mass-tourism, and closer to a Botswana model. The lodge near here is being rebuilt to cater for just that market.
The virtual explosion of the game ranching industry in south africa is very impressive. No more so than the eastern Cape over the last 4 years. I hope one day Kenya will see this kind of situation.
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Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!