| Many wildlife conservation researchers and planners acknowledge that an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for planning. Many integrated programs implemented since the 1970s have demonstrated positive short-term results. However, these programs also have had the same problems, such as local resistance and political corruption, crop up repeatedly. The repetition of these problems is partly due a limited interdisciplinary discourse between the social and ecological sciences. This argument was supported by a review of pertinent social and ecological literature, which demonstrates the prevalence of neo-Malthusian thought in ecology. While useful for studying wildlife, neo-Malthusian theory inhibits understanding in human societies and results in oversimplifying the human dimension. On the other hand, the literature also demonstrated that social scientists have traditionally had limited understanding of ecosystem processes and interest in wildlife studies. The research question addressed is: what information is required for integrated conservation planning that incorporates historical circumstances, social driving forces, and a dynamic view of ecosystems? The objectives were to help overcome the problems and obstacles listed above by developing a Contextual Framework for Wildlife Conservation. To illustrate the Framework I presented a case study from Kajiado District, Kenya. |
