The local communitiesอhave attempted to develop adaptation strategies – cultivation of perennial crops,
engaging inecotourism – to manage the impacts arising from the creation of the KCA.Yet,the interview
results indicate that inadequate local community consultation by the government in the provision of
alternative livelihood options,andc onflicts between traditional leaders as are sult of thec reation of KCA
haverenderedtheseadaptationstrategiesineffective,makinglocallivelihoodsuncertainanddifficult. In
essence,amodestcommitmentbythegovernmentand conservationagenciestowardssupportingand
engaging thelocalpeopleinthemanagementoftheKCAhasthepotentialtocreaterenewedoptimismin
localcommunities,inrelationtobiodiversityconservation andprovisionofalternativelivelihoodsupport.In
the absenceofsuchacommitmentfromgovernmentandconservationagencies,theongoingrobustnessof
community supportforconservation,inthefaceofacontinuinglackofbenefits andincreasingdeprivation,
is unknown.Effectivebiodiversityconservationmayoccurwhenthereisanunderstandingofthesocio-
culturalandpoliticalcontextoflocalcommunities.Thisisimperativeininvolvingandengagingwith
differentstakeholdersintheprocess ofbiodiversityconservation.