THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

or preserve in perpetuity specific outstanding natural features because of their natural
significance, unique or representational quality, and/or spiritual connotations. 717
On the other hand, category IV of the same guidelines is meant to deliver benefits to the
residents that are residing within the designated areas. This is supported by category V, which
emphasises the significance of continuation of traditional uses, practices, social and cultural
manifestations that are intended to bring related benefits and contribute to the welfare of the
residents residing within the designated areas. 718 Lastly, category VI underscores the
importance of conserving forest biodiversity while meeting the needs of the community,
through a sustained flow of natural conditions and thus in practice limits the actual area in
which community needs can be fulfilled to the one described as limited areas of modified
ecosystems.
The cardinal importance of enumerating the above guidelines for protected areas conservation
is to alert nation-states such as Kenya, about the importance of local peoples’ knowledge and
their role is the creation of protected area management. We therefore, do not need to remention
that the above guidelines are aimed at encouraging governments in such nation-states
to develop institutions that are tailored to meet the both national but most critically local
circumstances in order to reduce the conflicts that arise out of unmitigated institutions, as
illuminated by the Kakamega scenario. It also implies setting up Standard Operation
Procedures (SOPs) that can facilitate institutional alignment. 719 This is also embedded in the
Convention for Biodiversity and highlighted by the conference of parties, as a response to the
growing importance for the protected area. The two instruments underline the important
elements of equity, participation and benefit sharing. It is also a move towards “alternatives”
through the search for cognitive notions of individuals, society as well as facilitating
community empowerment. 720 This move may entrench resource management institutions
rather than resist current forms of formal regulation as evidenced by the Kakamega case
study.
717 Ibid.
718 IUCN. 1994, Opcit.
719 DFID. 1999. Shaping Forest Management: How coalitions manage forests. London: DFID.
720 Pavlich, G. The Power of Community Mediation: Community Formation of Self Identity. Law and Society
30(4):707-734.
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