Policy, environment and development in African rangelands

摘要: Abstract Environmental policies in African rangelands affect development and welfare as well environmental measures. Biodiversity is widely perceived declining, environments undergoing degradation, through rural population growth resource use. These assumptions are often underpinned by discourses contesting control of natural resources, rather than objectively measured trends causalities. Orthodox biodiversity conservation policy advocates fortress conservation. Savanna species do better where they can disperse across wider landscapes with conservation-compatible land uses, isolated protected areas, but community-based initiatives have been disappointing. Policies addressing their underlying assumptions, subject to similar challenges. The paper outlines a experiment investigating cover changes 1975–1995 for 100,000 km 2 cross-border rangeland including the Serengeti–Mara areas buffer zones. Ecological, ethnic micro-economic continuities make it possible confounding factors identify main drivers change. Privatisation formerly communal rangeland, its conversion commercial monoculture, driven drastic wildlife declines Kenya. Population agropastoral use were not significant factors. gap between social science, western versus local understandings, needs bridging achieve more effective policy.