Conservancies: A Demonstrable Local-Level Action for the Sustainable Development Goals in an African Indigenous Frontier

This paper examines an approach to local-level community action for the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), amid the growing importance of context-specific implementations to accelerate progress. Land-use governance is critical for contributions to the SDGs, as it shapes a wide range of environmental, social, and economic outcomes. Wildlife conservancies provide an innovative community-driven land-stewardship model that has proliferated across rangelands in various African countries as a sustainable development strategy. This study explores the potential contribution and capacity of conservancies, as a form of land-use governance, in advancing the SDGs at local levels. Using case studies from Kenya’s Maasai Mara, the research draws on qualitative primary data collected through in-depth interviews, a focus group discussion, observation, and document review, supplemented by secondary data obtained from a literature review. The data was analyzed thematically. The results show that conservancies address key socio-ecological challenges corresponding with multiple SDGs, particularly those related to poverty reduction, food security, climate action, and life on land. However, significant segments of local communities remain marginalized in decision making and benefit sharing, a situation rooted in pre-existing social hierarchies and weak governance institutions, raising concerns about social justice. Other major limitations are related to the conservancies’ over-reliance on tourism, and local people’s high dependence on natural resources. To resolve these limitations, the study recommends improving local governance via institutional strengthening, capacity building, gender empowerment, and stakeholder partnerships; diversifying income sources to reduce financial vulnerability; and adopting strategies to alleviate high dependence on natural resources in the long term.