Academic News

We have just come to the end of a very successful semester. The highlights of the last two weeks were Directed Research (DR) write-up and presentation to the community. The students worked on three projects which formed part of the center's five year research plan.

The three research projects conducted this semester included:

1. Human and elephant impacts on woody vegetation in Ololorashi -Olgulului group ranch. This study used the transect and plot method to measure the effects of humans and elephants on selected woody plant species. The study found out that in this particular area, humans had very little impact on plants while elephants destroyed a significant number of trees through debarking, felling and breaking branches.
2. The impacts of human activities on wildlife dispersal areas in Southern Mbirikani Group Ranch. In this study, the students mapped all man-made structures including bomas, roads, schools, and cultivated areas. The objective was to determine areas left open for wildlife movement between Amboseli, Chyulu, and Tsavo National Parks. The findings showed that this migratory corridor was being closed very fast and recommended planning structural developments in ways that left large open areas for wildlife movement.
3. An institutional analysis of community conservation initiatives within the Amboseli ecosystem. This study used semi-structured questionnaires and key informant methods to determine local community views and expectations towards and interactions with adjacent protected areas and to analyze issues of empowerment and equity within institutional framework in the study area. The study found out that there was lack of awareness and involvement in conservation initiatives by community members. There was also inequity in the distribution of wildlife conservation-based benefits where Group Ranch officials took all the benefits. The study recommended restructuring of group ranch management and introducing clear accounting systems and checks on group ranch management.

The findings of the three research projects were presented during a client presentation attended by 42 participants from the community, KWS, government officials, NGO representatives and other partners. Dr. Simon K. ole Seno, Center Director

Student Reflections

The last few weeks have been wholly consumed with directed field research. Our Directed Research projects started with a week of data collection out in the field. My group worked on assessing the damage humans and elephants are inflicting to woody vegetation in a nearby group ranch. Research went well for the most part. We only got stuck in the mud three times, one time which required the entire vehicle to be dug out of the mud. Also, we only had two encounters with elephants that necessitated our KWS guards to fire blanks in their rifles to discourage the elephants from charging us. Once we finished fieldwork with everyone still alive, we then analyzed our data. Then, unfortunately, we had to write about our research. Now all we have left is to present our work to the local community and then its time to start packing. It has been a great semester; I will miss my fellow students, the staff and the faculty all very much. Kenya has been a great home for the last three months, I will be sad to leave. Aaron David, Whitman College

It's the morning of the long awaited DR presentation. Just three and one half months ago we disembarked the plane after our twelve-hour flight from London, pale white and giddy with anticipation of the new things we were going to see and learn. Millions of laughs and incredible experiences later we found ourselves in the last month, facing the culmination of our studies thus far, Directed Research. Blood, sweat, tears, bad weather, chai, and big guns (don't worry they were protecting us!) are some of the more frequent features found within this month. Although, when the clock struck 6:00pm on December 9, students emerged from bandas, study bandas, computer rooms, and small dark corners with squinting eyes ill-adjusted to the sun, like bears from hibernation. We were ready, ready to hand in the 50-page paper that had consumed us. Now, in somewhat clean clothes, we are ready to present our work to the community. Everyone looks wonderful and well prepared to bring a close to our academics in this wonderful place.

Having the honor of writing the last news from the field, I want to give the world-wide- web a brief summary of the dynamics of this group and the bonds formed during our seemingly brief stay: Seven guys and twenty-one girls creates an interesting atmosphere, but in reaching the end of the program, I have realized that I now have twenty seven brothers and sisters. Coming to a third world country was a shock to all of us, but we all experienced it together. Through our cook crews, group projects, volleyball teams, Directed Research, and opposite sides of the camp, we had the opportunity to work (and play) with everyone. As with any academic semester, there were times of struggle and feeling down, but someone was always there to put a smile on our face. Kenya and all the people that made the wonderful decision to come on this program will remain in each of our hearts for the rest of our lives, and when we look back on this program we will smile and wish it could all happen again…. Alex Para, University of Redlands

Back to Kenya News Archive 2006    Next Page