Tanzania
EDUCATION
B.S. in Natural Resource Management, specialization in Forest, Range, and Wildlife Management,
Egerton University. (Kenya)
M.S. in Protected Landscape Management,
Greenwich University. (UK)
Moi University. (Kenya)
TEACHING
- Wildlife Ecology BI/EE (NS) 371
- Community Wildlife Mangement EE (NS) 350
- Directed Research EE 491
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member, East African Wildlife Society
- Member, Nature Kenya
- Reviewer for Pachyderm [Elephant and Rhino Journal]
FACULTY PROFILE
I joined SFS-CWMS in 2010 as a faculty member, and I had been a research assistant with SFS-Kenya since 2001. As a research assistant at SFS, I helped implement several projects under US-FWS Elephant Conservation Fund, such as investigating the efficacy of Human-Elephant Conflict mitigation measures and evaluating conservation of elephant corridors in southern Kenya.
Between 2008 and 2010, I worked for the Amboseli Elephant Research Project as a science conservation officer, where I was in charge of coordinating various elephant research projects. I am currently based at the SFS-CWMS center in Tanzania where I teach wildlife ecology and supervise student’s directed research.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My past research has mostly focused on elephant conservation, and I have served at several strategic forums for elephant conservation at regional and national level in Kenya. My Masters and Doctoral theses focused on landscape approach in conserving African elephants in southern Kenya. I take a holistic approach in research – integrating ecological and social disciplines to explore the complexity of biological systems. My long term research at SFS in Tanzania aims to expose students to the complexities of managing wildlife in changing ecological systems. The research focuses on evaluating the scales and nature of the changes.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
SFS Projects
Impacts of human activities on the ecological structure and dynamics of the Tarangire Manyara Ecosystem
This project investigates the impacts of foregoing land use changes on the ecological structure and dynamics of the dispersal for Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. Students employ GIS to analyze land use changes, conduct large mammal large mammal counts and undertake social surveys to collect data that vital in explaining the nature and scale of socio-ecological dynamics between the parks and adjacent wildlife dispersal areas.
Outputs:
Following stakeholder presentations by spring 2011 students, the management of Lake Manyara National Park requested for this project to be broadened so as to assist the park management in collecting data vital for implementation of the UNESCO Biosphere concept in Lake Manyara National Park. To fulfill this request, we will continue collect information vital for integrated zoning of the Lake Manyara National Park as a biosphere reserve.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2007 – United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Elephant Conservation Grant “Strategy for Conservation of Elephants in the Amboseli Ecosystem, 2008”
A Co-PI to an award to SFS [$ 40,000]
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS (last updated June 2011)
Peer-Reviewed Journals
Kioko J. & Okello M.M.(2010). Land use cover and environmental changes in a semi-arid rangeland, Southern Kenya. Journal of Geography and Regional Planning. 3(11): 322-326.
Okello, M.M., Kiringe, J. W. & Kioko, J.M. (2010). The Dilemma of Balancing Conservation and Strong Tourism Interests in a Small National Park: The Case of Amboseli, Kenya.
Okello, M.M., Kiringe, J. W. & Kioko, J.M.( 2010). Degradation of rangelands: causes, ecological, wildlife conservation and socio – economic implications.
Kioko, J, Muruthi P, Omondi P & Chiyo, P.I. (2008).The performance of electric fences as elephant barriers in Amboseli, Kenya. South African Journal of Wildlife Management.
Kioko, J.,Kiringe, J. & Omondi, P. (2006). Human-elephant conflict outlook in the Tsavo Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Pachyderm. 41:53-60.
Kioko J, Okello M, Muruthi P. (2006). Elephant numbers and distribution in the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, southwestern Kenya. Pachyderm. 40:61-68.
Vos, W, Sinnary, A and Kioko J,. (2003). An assessment of grassland conditions in Nairobi National Park, Kenya. African Journal of Range and Forage. 20:89-100.
Book Chapters
Chapter 6. pp 117 - 130 In O’Reilly, Angus and Murphy, Dorah (eds.) "National Parks: Biodiversity, Conservation and Tourism". Nova Publishers, New York, USA. ISBN 978 -1-60741-465-0. (Hardcover).
Chapter 1. pp 1 - 76 In O’Reilly, Angus and Murphy, Dorah (eds.) "Horizons in Earth Science Research ". Nova Publishers, New York, USA. ISBN 978 -1-60741-221-2-0. (Hardcover).
Conference Presentations
Kioko, J., Kiiru, W and Granli, P (2007). Some lessons on human elephant conflict mitigation in the Amboseli region, Kenya. Presentation at the Kenya Wildlife Conference on “Research imperatives for biodiversity conservation and management” held in Nairobi,18th – 20th April.
Kioko, J and Simon. S. (July 2007). Local community member’s perceptions towards having elephants on their land in Tsavo Amboseli Ecosystem. Presented at the international conference for Conservation biological conservation in South Africa, 1st – 5th july 2007.
Project Reports
Kioko, J. (December 2008). Strategy for Conservation of Elephants in the Amboseli Ecosystem, 2008. SFS, Boston, USA. Prepared for United Nations Fish and wildlife Service (USFWS).
Kioko, J. Kiringe J and Wahunghu G. (July 2008). Student knowledge, attitudes and practices on wildlife and environmental conservation in kenya. Prepared for school for field studies and ministry of education.
Kioko J, Kiiru, W and Granly p (August 2006). Mitigating human-elephant conflict in the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Prepared for African elephant conservation fund, USFWS and Amboseli Trust for Elephants.
Kioko, J.(June 2004). Role of Kimana and Namelok fences in mitigating human-elephant conflicts in Oloitokitok, Kenya.
A report for Human-elephant conflict workshop, held at the School for Field Studies, Kimana.
Consultancy Reports
Kioko , J. (March, 2009). The proposed Motikaju Conservation Area in Kuku Group Ranch: Opportunities and Challenges.
Report prepared for Adelaine University and African Wildlife Foundation. Kioko, J. (January, 2009).
Experiential tourism potential and development within Maasai Mau and its environs. Community based Integrated Forest Resources Conservation and Management in Maasai Mau Forest (COMIFORM).
Report Prepared for the Kenya Forest Working Group, East African Wildlife Society. Kioko, J (September, 2008).
Natural resource conservation and livelihoods options: The proposed Illeng’arunyani Conservancy in Mailua Group Ranch, Kajiado District. Report prepared for African Conservation Centre.
