Approaches to Community Conservation for Strengthening Nature Outcomes in East Africa

This rapid evidence review explores the effectiveness of different approaches to community-based conservation (CBC) in East Africa and their role in strengthening nature outcomes, with particular attention to models of community governance, and evidence for the effective alignment of incentives to promote biodiversity. Conservation approaches in East Africa are highly politicised, with historical issues of land exclusion and securitisation resulting from protected area networks, restricting access to natural resources for rural communities whose livelihoods typically depend on them. CBC approaches, which have sought to devolve and democratise centralised natural resource management (NRM) and provide alternative livelihoods and incentives to promote nature outcomes beyond park boundaries, have mixed results.