From COVID-19 Crisis to Solutions for Community Conservation and Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises: The Case of Amboseli Ecosystem, Kenya

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), a global pandemic, impacted livelihoods, economies and industries worldwide. The conservation and nature-based tourism sector was one of the leading economic casualties, resulting in a conservation crisis. Tourist attractions, hotels, sporting events, visits to cultural sites and most of the leisure activities that required travel and gatherings were destabilized by lockdowns, travel and other restrictions. This study aimed to assess the range of community conservation and nature-based tourism enterprises and their responses post-COVID-19 in the Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya. Using a bottom-up approach, a questionnaire survey targeting the local communities involved in conservation and ecotourism enterprises, and conservation agencies, was undertaken to understand how the measures taken to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and understand how the interventions and investments that were employed impacted their operations and programmes. The results show that the measures taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on local communities, conservation and nature-based tourism operations and programmes. Most communities and enterprises reported high impacts in activities related to loss of jobs and income, protecting biodiversity, loss of livelihoods for neighbouring communities, heightened threats from human-wildlife conflicts, and diminished support to development projects and neighbouring communities forcing some communities to turn to unsustainable conservation activities to support their livelihoods. Nevertheless, the study identifies the areas that need urgent support to strengthen the ability of communities and conservation enterprises to respond to future pandemics. They include funding to minimize human-wildlife conflicts and support the livelihoods of local communities, enhanced technical support and strengthening, and broadening collaborations and partnerships. This opens an opportunity for national dialogue between the government and conservationists to rethink the way that conservation and ecotourism-related enterprises are planned and the introduction of strategies on how to prevent and manage future pandemics of this nature.