Abstract:
Protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves are faced with many problems. These include human encroachment, species extinction. habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflicts on the fringes. Kenya‘s protected areas are no exception. In this work, the history of Lake Nakuru National Park (LNNP), is examined using the political ecology theory. The analysis is historical, exploring the factors that led to the establishment of the national park as well as the social, economic. political and ecological challenges it has faced over the years. The study also examines the various responses to the challenges that faced the park. The study is premised on the fact that the development of LNNI’ has been a major challenge to conservationists and other interest groups, The data collected during fieldwork has been analysed in the light of the political ecology theory to determine how different variables dialectically influenced each other. The research findings will be useful to scholars. conservationists, policy-makers and stakeholders like (‘ommunity Based Organisations (CBOs), especially those concerned with the promotion ofecotourisrn. The study may also form the basis of increased environmental awareness about LNNP and other protected areas in Kenya. From historical point of view, the study concludes that problems facing LNNP are not new and they are cyclic in nature. The state previously thought that ‘fortress conservation‘ was the solution to challenges facing the park but this study proves that little can be achieved without the contribution of the neighbouring communities and other interested parties or stakeholders especially the Municipal Council of Nakuru and Soysambu Farm.
