INVESTIGATING THE IMPACTS OF HABITAT LOSSDEGRADATION IN TOURIST DESTINATION areasON WILDLIFE TOURISM: A CASE STUDY OF MAASAI MARA GAME

RESERVE
Impacts of habitat loss Causes of habitat loss Causes of degradation of wildlife tourism acase of MMNR EFFECTS OF TOURISM ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN TOURIST DESTINATION AREAS A CASE OF MMNR

Presented by: NANCY NYAKUNDI BTM/30/08

A Proposal Submitted to Moi University, School of Business and Economics, Department of Tourism and Tour Operations Management in Partial fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Bachelor of Tourism Management.

ABSTRACT
Tourism is one of the worlds largest and fast growing industries that is closely intertwined with the environmental. Its rapid growth has resulted in destinations facing a myriad of environmental issues associated with the industry resulting to environmental degradation, with habitat degradation being the leading. The main purpose of this study is to assess the impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife tourism. The specific objectives will include: to determine the extent to which human activities impact on wildlife tourism, to establish how community land use practises impact on wildlife tourism, to investigate how tourism activities impact on wildlife tourism and to determine possible solutions to habitat degradation. Descriptive research design will be used. The target population will be 569 respondents from Maasai Mara area. Purposive sampling technique will be used to select Sekenani as a study area. Simple random sampling technique will be used to identify respondents for the study; the sample size will be 59 respondents. Both primary and secondary data will be used. Structured questionnaires and interviews will be used to collect primary data from the respondents while secondary data will be collected from published dossiers, books and the internet. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyse data and present it in the form of pie charts, bar graphs, tables and line graphs. The study will contribute towards creating awareness on habitat degradation and its impacts and giving of strategies to enhance conservation of habitats.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents...................................................................................................4 CHAPTER 1............................................................................................................. 7 1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Background.................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Problem statement.......................................................................................8 1.3 Justification...................................................................................................8 1.4 Purpose of the study.....................................................................................9 1.5 Research objectives......................................................................................9 1.5.1 Main objective........................................................................................9 1.5.2 Specific objective....................................................................................9 1.5.3 Research questions................................................................................9 1.6 Significance of the study..............................................................................9 1.7 Scope of the study......................................................................................10 1.8 Assumptions of the study...........................................................................10 1.9 Conceptual framework................................................................................11 CHAPTER 2........................................................................................................... 12 LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................12 2.0 Introduction................................................................................................12 2.1 definitions...................................................................................................12 2.1.1 Habitat..................................................................................................12 2.1.2 Habitat degradation..............................................................................12 2.1.3 Wildlife..................................................................................................12 2.1.4 Wildlife based tourism..........................................................................12 2.2 Habitat degradation....................................................................................12 2.2.1Causes of habitat degradation...............................................................13 2.2.2 Effects of habitat degradation..............................................................14 4

2.3 Wildlife based tourism................................................................................15 2.3.1 Importance of wildlife based tourism...................................................16 2.4 Impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife tourism.................................16 CHAPTER 3........................................................................................................... 18 RESEARCH METHODOLODY.................................................................................18 3.0 Introduction................................................................................................18 3.1 Study area..................................................................................................18 3.2 Research design.........................................................................................18 3.3 Target populations......................................................................................19 3.4 Sampling Design.........................................................................................19 3.4.1 Sample size..........................................................................................19 3.4.2 Sampling Procedure.............................................................................19 3.5 Data Collection...........................................................................................19 3.5.1 Data types and sources........................................................................20 3.5.3 Validity of Research instruments..........................................................20 3.6 Data Analysis Procedures...........................................................................20 REFERENCES........................................................................................................21 APPENDIX 1..........................................................................................................24 QUESTIONNAIRE FOR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY........................................24 APPENDIX 2..........................................................................................................27 INTERVIEW SCHEDULE......................................................................................27 APPENDIX 3..........................................................................................................28 3.1 Work plan................................................................................................... 28 APPENDIX 4..........................................................................................................29 4.2 Projected Budget........................................................................................29

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment GDP: Gross domestic product IUCN: International Union for the Conservation of Nature MEA: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Scientists WWF: World Wildlife Fund MMNR: Maasai Mara National Reserve

CHAPTER 1
1.0 Introduction
This chapter looks at the background information, statement of the problem, purpose of the study that entails research objectives and research questions, scope of the study, justification of the study, assumptions of the study, the limitations of the study and the conceptual framework.

1.1 Background
Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) was first established as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1948 (Koikai, 1992). It comprised a smaller area than the present reserve and included the Mara Triangle, a 520 kilometre area between the Siria Escarpment, the Tanzanian border and the Mara River. Some 1,672 km of this area was given the status of National Reserve in 1974, under Legal Notice 271 (WPU, 1983). Historically, the area was inhabited by semi-nomadic pastoralist Maasai communities (Homewood & Rogers, 1991). Land was held in trust for communities by the government, and some areas in the east of the ecosystem retain this arrangement. From the 1970s, these trust lands were converted into group ranches under local administration. More recently, subdivision of group ranches into parcels of privately owned land has been widely promoted (Thompson & Homewood, 2002). The sale of private land, and inward migration by neighbouring agricultural groups, has resulted in significant land transformation of the ecosystem, where mechanised wheat production and intensive small-scale agriculture, respectively, are spreading (Homewood et al., 2001; Serneelset al, 2001; Sitati, 1997; 2003). These changes may be responsible for an observed twenty-year decline in resident herbivores on the Kenyan side of the ecosystem (Ottichiloet al., 2000, 2001; Homewood et al., 2001, Serneels&Lambin, 2001). Tourist accommodation facilities started developing after MMNR was gazetted in 1963. In 1965, Keekorok Lodge was established from former self-catering chalets. Further facilities were established inside MMNR between 1972 and 1986. Facilities outside MMNR started developing in 1977 and have continued to the present day, despite the existence of a moratorium on further establishment of facilities (Walpole 2003) Today, the wildlife of Maasailand is threatened by poaching and the destruction of habitat. This is because the region's popularity as a tourist destination is growing, and large-scale tourist facilities are being built in pristine areas. Habitat is being lost to large-scale agriculture and commercial development. Population pressures from the surrounding regions of Eastern Africa are further distressing the land and its resources. Traditional migratory routes for wildlife are being lost, as indiscriminate development fragments Maasailand. All of these pressures, plus pollution associated with the tourism industry and illegal bush meat trade, are bearing irreversible impacts on the wildlife of Maasailand (Krista Jensen 2011).

If the degradation of Maasailand is allowed to continue, one of the last homes for the wild African elephant, wild rhinoceros, cheetah, leopard and giraffe will disappear. It also means losing the greatest and most spectacular large mammal migration on earth which is the most highly visited tourist area in the East African region.

1.2 Problem statement

Despite the considerable worldwide efforts to establish the wildlife protected areas a strategy perceived as the most feasible in maintaining the high quality habitats for healthy wildlife populations - destruction of wildlife habitats has remained the leading threat to biodiversity (Kidegheshoet al 2006).This degradation is prompted by factors such as population pressure evident in the 2009 census thus prompting encroachment into protected areas in search for settlement and farming land resulting in pressure on wildlife habitats.Changingland uses and land tenure systems from community land to individual parcels have fragmented ecosystems further deteriorating the situation.Thegrowth in prominence of Maasai Mara region as a tourist destination has enhanced tourism activities and the continued establishment of facilities within the reserve despite the existence of a moratorium on further establishment of facilities. These factors have significantly impacted on the habitats of large mammals and carnivores which need a lot of space to survive. It is also threatening the existence biodiversity within this ecosystem as population are declining which may result in extinction.The situation however, is no better in spite of thepreparation of tourism management plans for the Reserve in the 1980s (Thorsell, 1980; WPU, 1983), and the existence of visitor regulations. Environmental impacts remain largely unchecked (Onyeanusi, 1986; Gakahu, 1992; Bhandari 1998).Though presently there has been an enormous amount of efforts and regulations that have been put forward to address this concern of habitat degradation in theMara ecosystem, the situation is still wanting. Thus this study aims to find out if the existing policies on sustainability in the Mara are being implemented and are bearing fruits or if there is a rise in new challenges concerning environmental degradation and how they are affecting wildlife based tourism.

1.3 Justification
The study is justified in that Kenyas tourism industry is wildlife based and has been recognised internationally as a leading wildlife safaris destination. This clearly outlines the significance of managing negative environmental impacts such as habitat degradation that are having extreme impacts on this resource base. According to the IUCN's Red List, 85 percent of the entire world's wildlife is threatened by habitat loss. The shrinking of living space can
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lead to several problems, including competition for resources such as food and shelter, and can threaten the biodiversity of the species. It is also currently the leading cause of species extinction throughout the world. (Sierra Club.2010).Thus the impact of habitat degradation on wildlife cannot be down played especially in the tourism industry

1.4 Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study will be to establish the effects of habitat degradation on the current state and the future of wildlife tourism.

1.5 Research objectives 1.5.1 Main objective

The main objective of the study will be to determine the impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife tourism

1.5.2 Specific objective

a) To determine the extent to which human activities impact on wildlife tourism. b) To establish how community land use practises impact on wildlife tourism. c) To investigate how tourism activities impact on wildlife tourism. d) To determine possible solutions to habitat degradation.

1.5.3 Research questions

a) What is the extent to which human activities impact on wildlife tourism? b) How do community land use practises impact on wildlife tourism? c) How do tourism activities impact on wildlife tourism?

d) What are the possible solutions to habitat degradation?

1.6 Significance of the study

This research will be geared towards sensitizing the various stakeholders of tourism on the significance of habitats and the vital role they play in enhancing the survival and well-being of wildlife species upon which our tourism industry relies upon. This will be achieved through an assessment of the various contributors to habitat degradation and their implications on various habitats. The findings of this research will work towards assisting the tourism industry improve the nature of wildlife tourism by enhancing good practice among tourists and tourees through awareness on the relevance of habitats to wildlife and best tourist practises among the various actors in the industry.
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The various protected areas will use the findings of this research to formulate policies and strategies to conserve habitats and the environment at large thus promoting responsible tourism. This will be achieved through extenuating the various causes of habitat degradation within protected areas, setting policies on sustainable land use practices among communities adjacent to protected areas and setting of acceptable codes of conduct for tourist within protected areas This research will work towards sensitizing establishments within protected areas on the impact of their activities on habitats such as improper waste management strategies which lead to pollution resulting in various direct and indirect impacts. This will enhance practice of sustainable tourism The study will also work towards enlightening the local communities surrounding protected areas on the significant roles they will play in conservation of habitats through activities such as proper waste management and planting of trees

1.7 Scope of the study

This study will be carried out in Maasai Mara game reserve and specifically Sekenani area. This study will look at the various forms of human based habitat degradation in Mara and will not look at the natural caused habitat degradation. The study will be carried out between the months of December 2011 to April 2012.

1.8 Assumptions of the study

This study will assume that Maasai Mara experiences some of the forms of habitat degradation that the researcher will be studying and that they have a direct impact on the wildlife tourism.

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1.9 Conceptual framework

Independent variables dependent variable

Land use
Agriculture Settlement Pastoralism Ranching

Solution
Policies Education and awarenes s

Tourism activities
Off road driving Littering Overcrowding pollution

Wildlife tourism
Economic benefits Social benefits Cultural benefits Environmental benefits

Human activities
Logging Mining sand Charcoal burning Medicinal use

Source: Authors own compilation 2011

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CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction
This chapter will look at the definitions of habitat degradation and wildlife based tourism, the forms of habitat degradation, causes of habitat degradation, effects of habitat degradation, wildlife based tourism activities, importance of wildlife based tourism and the impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife based tourism

2.1 definitions 2.1.1 Habitat

A habitat is an area with a combination of resources (like food, cover, water) and environmental conditions (temperature, precipitation, presence or absence of predators and competitors) that promotes occupancy by individuals of a given species (or population) and allows those individuals to survive and reproduce. (Morrison L.M 2006).

2.1.2 Habitat degradation

Habitat degradation is the process by which habitat quality for a given species is diminished (Hunter 2002:193). Moreover Connect states that habitat degradation occurs when there is a disruption to an ecosystem that leaves it unable to support the species that inhabit it (Jeff Corwin Connect 2011).

2.1.3 Wildlife
Wildlife is essentially undomesticated, free-ranging terrestrial vertebrates that arereptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals (Yarrow 2009).

2.1.4 Wildlife based tourism

Wildlife based tourism is tourism undertaken to view and/or encounter wildlife. It can take place in a range of settings, from captive, semi-captive, to in the wild and it encompasses a variety of interactions from passive observation to feeding and/ or touching the species viewed (David Newsome et al. 2005).

2.2 Habitat degradation

Habitat loss is the greatest threat to the natural world. Every living thing needs somewhere to live, find food and reproduce. This is known as its habitat. In order for a species to be viable its habitat must have sufficient territory, necessary food and water and a range of necessary physical features. These features can include tree cover, rocky hills or deep pools, as well as the organisms and ecosystems that are needed to complete the life cycle (Michael E. 2011).
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The Serengeti - Mara ecosystem supports the most diverse migration of grazing mammals on earth. The Mara, although only a quarter of the total ecosystem area, is crucial to the survival of the entire system because it is the source of forage for wildlife migrating through the Serengeti during critical points in the dry season ( Reidet al 2003) However, only 25% of the wildlife habitat in the Mara part of the ecosystem is protected (in the Mara Reserve); the rest lies within pastoral and agricultural areas north of the reserve. These lands outside the reserve are also under more pressure than the rest of the ecosystem, with recent unprecedented human population growth, expansion of wheat farming in wildebeest calving grounds and expansion of tourism facilities ( Reidet al 2003). Moreover, when large numbers of tourists come to high-biodiversity areas, and the associated development is not well managed, there can be extremely negative effects on habitat integrity and drastically increased threat to vulnerable species. The most pronounced threat to biodiversity posed by tourism is land clearance and degradation resulting from tourism development. Developers in the hotspots and highbiodiversity wilderness areas are clearing out littoral forest, ripping up mangrove stands, dredging through sea grass beds, and filling in wetlands for tourism infrastructure and developments. From hotel parking lots to golf courses and marinas, thousands of hectares of critical habitat are being altered in ways that no longer support wildlife (Honey and Krantz 2007).

2.2.1Causes of habitat degradation

Habitat can be destroyed directly by many human activities, most of which involve the clearing of land for other uses such as agriculture, mining, logging, hydroelectric dams and urbanization. Habitat can also be destroyed indirectly by human activities such as pollution, fragmentation, climate change and the introduction of invasive species. It is also as a result of natural events such as floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and climate fluctuations (Klappenbach 2011). The Maasai Mara region's popularity as a tourist destination is growing, and large-scale tourist facilities are being built in pristine areas. The Habitat is being lost to large-scale agriculture and commercial development. Population pressures from the surrounding regions of Eastern Africa are further distressing the land and its resources (Gonomad 2011). Facilities outside MMNR started developing in 1977 and have continued to the present day, despite the existence of a moratorium on further establishment of facilities (Walpole 2003). In addition the development of roadways often cuts directly through habitats, creating fragmented sections of land that are not large or well-connected enough to support the species living there. Animals inhabiting these areas are often left isolated and unable to reach other suitable areas to feed or find mates. Animals that attempt to reach other habitats by crossing roads and highways may be killed or injured by cars. Aquatic animals can be affected by habitat fragmentation as well. The damming and rerouting of rivers may cause certain areas such as swamps and riverbeds to shrink or completely dry up. This poses a serious problem
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for the wildlife such as fish, turtles and alligators that rely on these wetland habitats (Connect 2011) Furthermore, uncontrolled and unregulated tourist use in some wildlife areas is a source of concern for a variety of perceived or actual ecological and social impacts, including wildlife disturbance and displacement, habitat damage and pollution. Much of this impact is due to ignorance or a lack of effective management and control (Roe et al., 1997). Uncontrolled off-road driving that occurs in accessible areas in the Mara where vehicle pressure is greatest, has also damaged or destroyed several square kilometres of grassland, although its aesthetic significance may be greater than its ecological effects (Walpole 2003). Moreover, invasive species are also tied to habitat loss as they degrade the quality of healthy habitat, forcing both predators and prey to search for more suitable habitats (defenders of wildlife 2011). Climate change is also a major threat to species all over the world as it continues to rapidly exasperate habitat loss. Unless emissions are curbed and stronger efforts to conserve and protect wildlife habitat are soon put in place, the many complex negative impacts of climate change will continue to worsen. (Defenders of wildlife 2011)

2.2.2 Effects of habitat degradation

The effects of habitat destruction not only impact native species and communities, but they impact human populations as well. Although habitat destruction primarily causes species extinctions, it can also open up new habitat that might provide an environment in which new species can evolve, thus demonstrating the resiliency of life on Earth (Klappenbach 2011) When habitats are destroyed humans (tourists) lose direct uses of the natural habitat. Aesthetic uses such as bird watching, recreational uses like hunting and fishing, and ecotourism usually rely upon virtually undisturbed habitat. Many people value the complexity of the natural world and are disturbed by the loss of natural habitats and animal or plant species worldwide (MEA 2005). Habitat degradation may alter the fitness of a landscape to such an extent that the species is no longer able to survive and becomes extinct. This may occur by direct effects, such as the environment becoming toxic, or indirectly, by limiting a species' ability to compete effectively for diminished resources or against new competitor species. That is, when a habitat is destroyed, the plants, animals, and other organisms that occupied the habitat have a reduced carrying capacity so that populations decline and extinction becomes more likely. Many endemic organisms have very specific requirements for their survival that can only be found within a certain ecosystem, resulting in their extinction. Extinction may take place very long after the destruction of habitat through a phenomenon known as extinction debt. (Stuart and Raven 2000). Habitat destruction can also decrease the range of certain organism populations. This can result in the reduction of genetic diversity and perhaps the production of infertile off-springs,
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as these organisms would have a higher possibility of mating with related organisms within their population, or different species. One of the most famous examples is the impact upon China's Giant Panda, once found across the nation. Now it is only found in fragmented and isolated regions in the south-west of the country, as a result of widespread deforestation in the 20th Century (Stuart and Raven 2000). Probably the most profound impact that habitat destruction has on people is the loss of many valuable ecosystem services. Habitat destruction has altered nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, and carbon cycles, which has increased the frequency and severity of acid rain, algae blooms, and fish kills in rivers and oceans and contributed tremendously to global climate change (MEA 2005). Other ecosystem services that are diminished or lost altogether as a result of habitat destruction include watershed management, nitrogen fixation, oxygen production, pollination, waste treatment (i.e., the breaking down and immobilization of toxic pollutants), and nutrient recycling of sewage or agricultural runoff. The loss of trees from the tropical rainforests alone represents a substantial diminishing of the earths ability to produce oxygen and use up carbon dioxide. These services are becoming even more important as increasing carbon dioxide levels is one of the main contributors to global climate change (MEA 2005).

2.3 Wildlife based tourism

Wildlife tourism is based on encounters with non-domesticated (non-human) animals in either their natural environment or in captivity. It includes both non-consumptive forms of wildlife tourism, such as viewing, photography and feeding; and consumptive forms, such as hunting and recreational fishing (Conway 1995). Technically wildlife includes both flora and faunawith more emphasis on fauna, as usually understood in the tourism industry. It has further been classified as Wildlife-dependent vs wildlife-independent. Wildlifedependent wildlife tourism occurswhen it is the tourists deliberate intention to view wildlife, whereas wildlife-independentwildlife tourism relates to tourists who travel without the specific intention of experiencingwildlife, but consider their wildlife encounter adds value to their recreational experience. Analternative terminology sometimes presented for this is primary vs secondary wildlife watching.(Higginbottom et al.2001). The common wildlife based products on offer in the tourism industry include: animal watching, thrill seeking tours, artificial wildlife attractions, fishing and hunting tours and habitat specific tours (Reynolds and Braithwaite 2001) which are mainly non- consumptive. These benefits are accrued from the wide range of

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2.3.1 Importance of wildlife based tourism

2.3.1.1 Economic benefits

Tourism currently accounts for about 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it the third largest contributor to GDP after agriculture and manufacturing, and Kenyas third largest foreign exchange earner after tea and horticulture. The sector is also a major source of employment estimated in 1998 at over 500,000 jobs, of which some 360,000 jobs were in the formal sector and 180,000 jobs in the informal sector. The sector is also a major source of Government Revenue in the form of taxes, duties, licence fees, entry fees, etc., while the spatial distribution of tourist attractions contributes to equitable distributions of economic and infrastructural development (National tourism policy 2006).

2.3.1.2 Socio-cultural benefits

Communities in Kenya have lived amongst, and used, wildlife resources since time immemorial without formal policy and legislation. These communities ensured conservation of the wildlife resource through cultural and social bonds, and traditional practices. Sacred beliefs centred on certain wildlife species ensured that conservation principles were part of their way of life (Kenya Wildlife Policy 2006). Tourism is a force of peace. Sustainable tourism has an educational element in that it can foster understanding between people and cultures and provide cultural exchange between hosts and guests. This increases chances of people to develop mutual sympathy and understanding and to reduce prejudices. It also strengthens communities through events and festivals of the local residents where they have been primary participants and spectators. Jobs created can be a very important motivation to reduce migration from rural areas. Locals can also benefit from social amenities such as upgraded infrastructures, health and transport improvements, new sport and recreational facilities and food (global summit on peace 2000)

2.3.1.3 Ecological benefits

Tourism has fostered conservation and preservation of natural, cultural, and historical resources. It has encouraged community beautification and revitalization (Barcelona field study centre 2011).Tourism has been partly responsible for increased interest in, and concern for, the natural and built environment and its condition. Effective visitor information services, interpretative signing, guided tours can raise the profile of natural assets and issues surrounding them. In many cases tourism has provided an economic argument for conservation, preservation and restoration of natural and built resources (tourism victoria 2010)

2.4 Impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife tourism.

Tourism is the worlds largest industry, and nature-based tourism is an increasingly significant proportion of global tourism. It provides an economic rationale for protected areas and has the potential to generate significant benefits for conservation, local communities and national governments. (Walpole 2003).However, Kenyas great reservoir of wildlife is increasingly under threat and consequently opportunities are being lost for it to positively
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contribute to economic growth, wealth creation and increased employment. This is because of various challenges such as land use changes, destruction of wildlife habitats, insecure tenure to land and illegal and unsustainable off-take of wildlife and bush meat (Kenya Wildlife Policy 2007). Although previously habitat changes were relatively a minor factor in decline of species, being overshadowed for centuries by overexploitation and introduction of exotic species (Soule et al. 1979; WCMC 1992), their relative importance has increased in recent decades. Habitat loss has emerged the most severe threat to biodiversity worldwide (Brooks et al. 2002b; IUCN 2004; Naeemet al. 1999; Smith and Smith 2003) threatening some 85% of all species classified as "threatened" and "endangered in the IUCN's Red Lists (IUCN 2004). It is the most pervasive to birds, mammals and amphibians (ibid). Continued degradation impliesloss of wildlife leading to a decline in wildlife tourism and its eventual extinction. The benefits of tourism will in turn be lost.

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CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLODY

3.0 Introduction
This chapter will look at the area of study, the study design, Research design, Target populations, Sampling design, Sample size, Sampling procedure, Data collection and instruments; Validity of research instruments and Data analysis procedures

3.1 Study area

The Maasai Mara game reserve is situated 168 kilometres (105) miles south of equator, about 247 kilometres southwest of Kenyas capital city, Nairobi. It lies in southwest Kenya, in the Narok district of Kenyas Maasai land. The reserve covers a total of 1510 square kilometres, with the Maasai triangle covering about 690 square kilometres (the area west of Mara river) and 820 square kilometres covering that areas east of the Mara river. It is bounded by Serengeti Park to the south, the Siria escarpment to the west, the Loita hills lie to the east, the Loita plains to the north and the Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west. Rainfall in the ecosystem increases markedly a long a southeast-northwest bimodal.The Maasai Mara game reserve is only a fraction of the greater Mara ecosystem, which includes the following group ranches: Koiyaki, Lemek, OlChorroOirowua, OlKinyei, Siana, Majimoto, Naikara, OlDerkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien and Kimintet. The sand, Talek and Mara rivers are the main rivers draining the reserve. Shrubs and trees cover most drainage lines and cover hill slopes and hilltops. The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grasslands with seasonal riverlets in the southeast region are clumps of the acacia tree. The western border is the Esoit (Siria) escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Wildlife seems to be more concentrated here as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good, while tourist disruption is minimal. The easternmost border is 224 kilometres from Nairobi and hence it is the eastern regions which are most visited by tourists. The population of the Narok town is 40000 people as per the 2009 census.

3.2 Research design

According to Mugenda (1999), research design is the plan, structure and strategy of investigation conceived so as to obtain answers to research questions. Based on the research problem and the research questions formulated for the study, the research design that will be used is the descriptive survey design. The reason for selecting this design is because the research requires the respondents to give information that will be used to determine the effects of habitat degradation on wildlife tourism.Apart from just describing, the survey design will be used for explaining the existing status of habitat degradation. Descriptive studies generally take raw data and summarize it in a usable form.

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3.3 Target populations

According to Mugenda (1999), target population is a population to which a researcher would like to generalize the results of a study. The target population for this study will be 69 game employees who will include 62 rangers and 7 wardens in Maasai Mara and 500 local people within 5km of Mara nature reserve. Sampling frame showing target population Maasai Mara game reserve Employees 69 Wardens 7 Rangers 62 Local residents 500 Total 569

3.4 Sampling Design

According to Mugenda (1999), the term sample design refers to the procedures or processes used to obtain the sample size for the study. The sample size on the other hand, is the number of cases involved in the study from which the researcher collects data. The sampling designs to be used will be purposive sampling to select sekenani area as a study case because of the evident land use practices and incidences of habitat degradation, and simple random sampling will be used to select the respondents for the questionnaires.

3.4.1 Sample size

According to Mugenda (1999) if descriptive study is used 10% of the target population is adequate. Target group Rangers Local residents Total Population 62 500 Sampling 10% x 62 10% x 500 Sample size 6 50 56

6 questionnaires will be administered to the rangers, 50 to the local people and 3 wardens will be selected for interviewing

3.4.2 Sampling Procedure

Simple random procedure will be used to select the respondents for the questionnaires.

3.5 Data Collection

This subsection discussed the data types and sources to be used in the study, the data collection instruments and validity of the instruments.
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3.5.1 Data types and sources

3.5.1.1 Primary data

This data will be collected through administration of structured and semi structured questionnaires and interviews with the wardens.

3.5.1.2 Secondary data

This data will be collected from published dossiers and books from the library and the internet to supplement the information about degradation in Maasai Mara. 3.5.2 Data collection instruments

3.5.2.1 Questionnaires
Questionnaires will be designed based on the research problem to be administered to the wardens and the rangers of Maasai Mara game reserve. All the questionnaires will constitute close-ended questions and likert scale as they will be easier to code and analyse. They will be taken to Maasai Mara by the researcher, monitored and then collected when duly filled for the analysis of the information. Advantages of using questionnaires include gathering information in a standardized way, it is cost effective, and they permit anonymity

3.5.2.2 Interview schedules

This will involve oral presentation of the questions to the respondents. The oral interviews will be conducted in such a manner to tally with the objectives of the research and hence enable the researcher to obtain in-depth information. The interview schedule will have openended questions so as to collect in-depth information that the questionnaire could not. The advantage of the interview schedule is that it can be used to seek personal opinion of the respondents regarding habitat degradation.

3.5.3 Validity of Research instruments.

According to Mugenda (1999), validity is the degree to which results obtained from the analysis of the data actually represent the phenomenon under study. A pilot study will be conducted in Maasai ,Mara game reserve where seven questionnaires will be given out to test questionnaires for ambiguous questions or ease of answering and understanding the questionnaires.

3.6 Data Analysis Procedures

Quantitative data from the study will be cleaned, coded and analyzed through descriptive statistics by the help of Scientific Packages for Social Scientists software (S.P.S.S) and Microsoft excel. Descriptive statistics makes use of measures of central tendency such as means, median and mode and measures of dispersion such as range deviation and variance to describe a group of subjects. Counts and percentages of the individuals will be used to interpret the data. The data will be presented by use of graphs, charts and table

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REFERENCES
Barcelona field Studies Centre (2011) Tourism costs and benefits viewed on 4 November geographyfieldwork.com/TourismProsCons.htm Biology online (2008) Habitat degradation and loss: Biodiversity and development challenges in Africa (www.biology-online.org viewed on 20 September) Connet, J.C (2011), Habitat loss ( http://www.ecomii.com/jeff-corwin/environment/habitatloss viewed on 29 September) Defenders of wildlife (2011), Threats to wildlife due to habitat loss (http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/wildlife_conservation/threats/habitat_loss.p hp viewed on 2 October) Delener N. (2010), Current trends in the global tourism industry evidence from the United States, Journal of global business and technology 44(5):1125-137. (http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rap/v44n5/v44n5a06.pdf as at 10 October) Eagles P. F. J et al. (2002) Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management series no.8. IUCN, Cambridge: UK, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization Fredline and Faulkner (2001) cited in Wildlife Tourism: challenges, opportunities and L. Mastny, Traveling Light: New Paths for International Tourism, Worldwatch Institute, Washington, December 2001. Honey,M and Krantz D. (2007). Global trends in coastal tourism. Stanford university press. Washington DC. Gonomad (2011) .Keeping the Faith: The Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition (MERC) http://www.gonomad.com/helps/0009/merc.html viewed on 2 December managing the future. CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd .Australia Geist, H. J., and Lambin E. F. Dynamic causal patterns of desertification Bioscience 54(9):817-829 United Nations (2000) Global Summit on peace ; International institute of peace through tourism, Thailand Higginbottom Karen (2004) Wildlife Tourism: Impacts, Management and Planning.Common Ground Publishing. australia Homewood, K.M. & Rodgers, W.A. (1991) Maasailand ecology: pastoralist development and wildlife conservation in Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

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Homewood, K., Lambin, E.F., Coast, E., Kariuki, A., Kikula, I., Kivelia, J., Said, M., Serneels, S. & Thompson, M. (2001) Long-term changes in Serengeti-Mara wildlbeest and land cover: Pastoralism, population or policies? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98, 12544-12549. Honey and Krantz (2007), Global trends in coastal tourism, Stanford University press: Washington DC Kideghesho1a, J. R, Nyahongo, J.W 2b, Shombe N. H.1c, Tarimo1d T. C.& Mbije1e E. N. (2006).Factors and Ecological Impacts of Wildlife Habitat Destruction in the Serengeti Ecosystem in Northern Tanzania.Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI),Tanzania.(11) p17-32 Klappenchab L. (2011) Habitat destruction destruction.htm viewed on 27 September) (http://animals.about.com/od/h/g/habitat-

Tourism Victoria (2010) Benefits of Tourism: Growing Destinations viewed on 3 November www.tourimexcellence.com.au/Growing-Destinations/Benefits-of-Tourism.html Laurance, W. F. 1999. Reflections on the tropical deforestation crisis, Biological Conservation 91: 109-117 Mount Diablo Review, Autumn 2007, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Retrieved on 25 September MEA. 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press, Covelo, CA Mugenda, M. (1994), Research Methods, Nairobi Press: Kenya Muthee, L. W. (1992) Ecological impacts of tourist use on habitats and pressure point species. In: Gakahu, C.G. (ed.), Tourist attitudes and use impacts in Masai Mara National Reserve. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, pp. 18-38. Newsome D et al. (2005)Wildlife tourism: Aspects of Tourism. Channel view publishers. Toronto Ottichilo, W.K., de Leeuw, J., Skidmore, A.K., Prins, H.H.T. & Said, M.Y. (2000) Population trends of large non-migratory wild herbivores and livestock in the Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya, between 1977 and 1997. African Journal of Ecology, 38, 202-216. Ottichilo, W.K., de Leeuw, J. &Prins, H.T. (2001) Population dynamics of resident wildebeest [Connochaetestaurinushecki(Neumann)] and factors influencing them in the Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya. Biological Conservation, 97, 271-282 Reid, R.S. et al (2003). People, Wildlife and Livestock in the Mara Ecosystem: The Mara Count 2002 Report, Mara Count 2002, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Roe et al (1997), Take only photographs, leave only footprints: the environmental impacts of wildlife tourism, IIED Wildlife and Development Series: London Serneels, S. &Lambin, E.F. (2001) Impact of land-use changes on the wildebeest migration in thenorthern part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.Journal of Biogeography, 28, 391-407 Sitati, N.W. (1997) The impact of changing land use patterns in the adjacent Masai Mara group ranches on the large herbivore populations. MPhil Thesis, Moi University, Eldoret. Sitati, N.W. (2003) Human-elephant conflict in TransMara district adjacent to Masai Mara National Reserve. PhD thesis, University of Kent, Canterbury. Smith E. K and Dr. Welch A. (2004) Habitat Destruction: ecology Stuart and Raven (2000) cited in Morrison M. et al (2006)Wildlife-Habitat Relationships: Concepts and Applications Island press : Washington D.C Primack, R. B. 2006. Essentials of Conservation Biology. 4th Ed. Habitat destruction, pages 177-188. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland Walpole M, Karanja GG, Sitati NW and Leader-Williams N (2003) Wildlife and People: Conflict and Conservation in Masai Mara,Kenya.Wildlife and Development Series No.14, International Institute for Environment and Development, London.

Will, Elizabeth and Ole Lolonyo. (2009) Predatoraware:lion and leopard protection in Maasai Mara. http://predatoraware.wildlifedirect.org/category/poaching/ viewed on 2 November. World Summit on sustainable tourism (2001), Pro-Poor Tourism: Harnessing the Worlds Largest Industry for the Worlds Poor, international institute for environment and development press: (http://www.propoortourism.org.uk/Dilys%20IIED%20paper.pdf as at 17 October) WPU (Wildlife Planning Unit) (1983) Masai Mara National Reserve Management Plan.Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Nairobi. Yarrow, G. (2009) Wildlife and Wildlife Management: Forestry and Natural Resources. ClemsonAJEAM-RAGEE ( 110)April 2006 p917-32

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APPENDICES APPENDIX 1
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY
Dear respondent I am a fourth year student at Moi University undertaking a bachelors degree course in Tourism Management. This questionnaire is a research tool that was designed to assess the impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife tourism. Your assistance towards achieving this objective will be highly appreciated. The information that you will provide will be treated with utmost confidentiality and will be for academic purposes only. Thank you for your cooperation. Yours sincerely, Nancy Nyakundi ================================================================== === Please tick against each item. SECTION A: PERSONAL INFORMATION 1. What is your gender? Male ( ) Female ( ) 2. Indicate your marital status. Single ( ) Married ( ) Divorced ( ) Widowed ( ) 3. Indicate your present age 18 24 ( ) 25 32( ) 33 40( ) 40 50 ( ) Above 51 ( ) 4. What is your profession? Work in a lodge ( ) game ranger ( ) game warden ( ) resident around the Mara ( ) If other please specify____________________ 5. How long have you worked in Mara or lived around Maasai Mara ? Less than one year ( ) 1-3years ( ) 4-6 years ( ) 7-12years ( ) 12-23 years ( ) Over 24 years ( ) SECTION B: HUMAN ACTIVITIES
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Please tick in the appropriate box if you think the following activities do happen in Maasai Mara game reserve. Statement There is cutting down of trees and shrubs for charcoal burning in Mara Firewood is collected from Mara game reserve Sand for building comes from Mara, Talek and Sand rivers Trees and logs for construction of manyattas, fencing and building of houses comes from Maasai Mara Local medicine is gotten from tree barks, herbs and shrubs from Maasai Mara Cutting down of trees for timber used by lodges to make furniture, trails and beautify their lodges. Any other .... SECTION C: LAND USES Statement People graze their animals in Maasai Mara game reserve. Land in some areas is being used for agricultural purposes. There are settlements in the Mara reserve with some built with bricks. Group ranches are found around Mara game reserve and some are fenced. Lodges have bush dinners, lunches, breakfast and sun-downers in the heart of
25

Most Frequently frequently

Dont Rarely Not at know all

Strongly agree

Agree Dont know

Disagree Strongly disagree

the Mara game reserve. There is an increase in the number of lodges and tented camps being built in Maasai Mara game reserve. Lodges and tented camps are built near or on rivers and springs that are found in Maasai Mara game reserve

Any other . SECTION D: TOURISM ACTIVITIES Statement Tourists and local people throw litter in the reserve when they are in the reserve Tourists crowd when animals are sighted i.e. lions, rhinos, leopards and cheetahs. Tour guides drive off the roads for a closer view of the animals or to search for some of the animals like the rhino and leopard Vehicles cause air and noise pollution in the game reserve. Tourists collect flowers plants and fungi when in the game reserve.. Any other Strongly agree Agree Dont know Disagree Strongly disagree

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APPENDIX 2
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
1. How long have you been working in Maasai Mara? 2. In your opinion what are the various human activities that occur in Maasai Mara and to what extent do they affect the habitat? 3. Are there any measures that have been put in place to mitigate them? 4. What are the various land use activities that are practised in Maasai Mara game reserve and their impact on the environment? 5. Do tourist activities really have any effect on the wildlife and the environment in Maasai Mara? 6. What would you recommend that should be done to curb environmental destruction?

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APPENDIX 3
3.1 Work plan
Table 1: Work plan Activities Duration Month Deciding on a August researchable topic of study Writing of the September research proposal to October in consultation with supervisors Proposal presentation corrections November and 2011 Year 2011 Writing the Researcher research topic Writing research proposal the Researcher Title of research proposal the Input By whom Output

2011

A research proposal

2011

Presentation and Corrections

Researcher/ Supervisors

Questionnaire and interview schedule Questionnaire and interview schedule

Development and September validating of the to data collection November instruments; questionnaires and interview schedule Piloting of the December instruments to the sampled respondents Analysis of data Project presentation Project submission February March March

Construction Researcher/ of Supervisors questionnaire and interview schedule Administering Researcher data collection instruments Researchers Researcher collection data Researchers final project Researchers final project Researcher/ Supervisors Researcher

2011

Research data

2012 2012 2012

Analysed data Final project Final project

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APPENDIX 4
4.2 Projected Budget
Table 2: Projected Budget Description Equipment Flash disk Modem 1 1 1000 3000 1000 3000 No. @ Kshs Total (Kshs)

Sub-total Publication Photocopying Binding of the project Binding proposal Sub-total Travelling costs Piloting questionnaire Data collection Sub-total Other expenses Communication Modem airtime Miscellaneous 1 day 3 weeks of 3 -

4000

4000

2000 200 200 -

2000 600 400 3000

the 2 -

3500 5000 8000

3500 5000 8000

1500 1000 2700

2000 3000 2700

Sub-total GRAND TOTAL

7700 22700

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30