Informing Equitable Governance and Engagement of Maasai Communities in Carbon Markets to Ensure Benefit Sharing and Effective Conservation
Research Location:
Implemented: Amboseli, Kenya
Conservation Partner:
Amboseli Ecosystem Trust
Past Student Researchers
Owen Tucker '25, Major: Finance; Major: Integrative Conservation (2024)
Michael Foley '26, Major: Economics (2023)
Riley Kelley '24, Major: Biology; Major: Environment and Sustainability (2023)
Julia Wack '24, Major: Integrative Conservation; Minor: Environment and Sustainability (2023)
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Fernando Galeana-Rodriguez, Graham Henshaw (2023), and Erica Garroutte (2023)Project Description
The Amboseli Ecosystem has a unique history and approach to community conservation, serving as a global model. The Maasai communities of Amboseli are stewards of their land, using pastoralist livelihood strategies that are not only compatible with but also sustain biodiversity and ecosystem health. The conservation success of Amboseli’s rich biodiversity is largely due to community-led initiatives and equitable governance structures that balance Maasai livelihoods with conservation goals. However, challenges such as frequent droughts, land-use changes, group ranch subdivisions, and the influx of outside markets are threatening both biodiversity and the pastoralist livelihoods of local Maasai communities.
Carbon markets present a promising opportunity to mitigate climate change impacts, promote environmental conservation, and support the continued livelihoods of Maasai communities. To be effective, however, these markets must be grounded in a thorough understanding of Maasai perspectives on carbon trading and the governance structures needed to ensure equitable benefits for the community, along with sustainable conservation outcomes. This exploration of the political ecology of conservation decisions in Amboseli will help guide the region’s group ranches and communities in planning and making decisions that ensure carbon markets align with local goals.
The IIC is collaborating with the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust to conduct applied research that will provide Maasai communities with the information necessary to make informed decisions about carbon markets as a viable livelihood and conservation strategy. In 2023, a team of William & Mary students surveyed Amboseli community members about how climate change is affecting their livelihoods, their adaptation strategies, and their knowledge and perspectives on carbon markets as a climate adaptation tool. The findings revealed that while the community is experiencing the impacts of climate change and land use changes, they are diversifying their livelihood strategies. However, despite the presence of carbon market projects in Amboseli, there was a general lack of awareness and a mixed perception of their effectiveness as a strategy for both climate adaptation and conservation. In 2024, William & Mary students focused on exploring community perspectives on ensuring just and equitable benefit-sharing from carbon markets, with an emphasis on ensuring that all members of the Maasai community receive the benefits of their crucial environmental stewardship work.
Project ID - Format
23-019-23 - CRP Year
23-019-24 - CRP Year