RITA WAIRIMU NTHIGA,MOI UNIVERSITY , KENYA.,Lessons from field work experience( Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda,Wilbers work- Effects of tourism interventions on rural livelihoods and biodiversity conservation( wide and one needs to focus on few stakeholders so as to get in-depth information) Many Ngos present and were supporting many projects( e.g., schools, health centres, gorilla conservation etc Research methodology used( focus group discussions , unstructured interviews and non-participant observation),Issues arising,Private sector interventions ( have the money/ potential to get involved- contribute to livelihoods and environment / do they? If yes, how? If not, why? NGOs interventions-mainly established to do good to both rural livelihoods and conservation- do they? If yes, how? If not, why?,Issues arising cont,Methodological approach- need to combine several techniques and methodologies( triangulation) so as to get a holistic overview of the issues under consideration,CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSERVATION AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LODGES AND NGOS CSR INTERVENTIONS IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK, KENYA.,Background,Tourism is a major industry and currently the leading foreign exchange earner for the Kenyan economy.( GoK, 2007, 2008) Has been identified as one of the sectors that shall contribute significantly towards poverty alleviation economic recovery strategy , vision 2030 and millennium development goals( GoK, 2003,2007),Background cont.,Tourism industry in Kenya is mainly nature and wildlife- based, but over the years there has been an increase in the depletion of natural resources which threatens conservation, tourism and rural livelihoods Tourism can be used as a tool for conservation if local peoples aspirations are combined with conservation through the application of an alternative model for conservation that goes beyond park boundaries. ( Wishitemi and Okello, 2003),Background cont,Natural resources can have an important benefits on the livelihoods of rural people especially through direct consumption and income generation( Fisher et al, 2005) There is a direct link between a sound environment and improved livelihoods/ sustainable livelihoods.,Study area,Aberdares Nat Park -1950 and covers an area of 766 square kilometers A major tourist attraction and is one of the five major water towers of the country Has been undergoing massive depletion over the years threatening conservation, tourism and livelihoods Consequently stakeholders have devised several interventions projects and CSR activities.,Justification- gap to be filled,Despite the interventions little research has been done to find out whether they are making a significant contribution to both environmental conservation and rural livelihoods It is not known whether those interventions meet the aspirations of the rural people./ whether they match with the rural expectations,Aim of the study,The major aim of the study will be to compare the contribution of lodges/ accommodation facilities and non- governmental organizations to conservation in the area adjacent to Aberdares National Park, Kenya,Objectives,Analyze the various typologies/ types of interventions adopted by lodges and NGOs with regard to conservation and rural livelihoods Identify the dimensions by which the interventions are similar or differ from each other To determine the impacts/ contribution of the interventions to conservation To determine the impacts/ contribution of the interventions to the rural livelihoods,Proposed Research Methodology,Will encompass both qualitative and quantitative approaches Exploratory and interpretive methodology/ ethnography as well as phenomenology,Proposed Research Framework,To be done in stages i) In-depth literature search ii) Reconnaissance survey of the study area iii) Actual data collection iv) Report write up and further literature search v) Final report and submission.,Data Collection-stage iii,STEP ONE( purposive sampling) Semi structured interviews with key informants- lodge managers, NGOs managers, community leaders ( help get knowledge of the various interventions to be included in the study STEP TWO( purposive- other stakeholders, convenient rural households) Individual interviews / questionnaires,Data collection cont,STEP THREE( snow balling ) Focus group discussions with both homogenous and heterogeneous groups so as to establish a common stand/ understanding of the issues under investigation/study,THANK YOU,