According to the 2019 census, Narok County, in southwestern Kenya spanning 17,921 square kilometers, has a population of 1,157,873 and is predominantly inhabited by the Maasai community. Home to the renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, Narok County relies heavily on tourism as a vital pillar of its economy. The reserve attracts thousands of visitors each year, contributing significantly to the County's economic development and providing 70% of employment opportunities for residents.
The Greater Maasai Mara Ecosystem (GMME) is a part of the extensive Serengeti-Maasai Mara Ecosystem, which spans approximately 25,000 square kilometers and is globally famous for the spectacular annual migration of over one million wildebeest. The GMME can be categorized into three main geographical components based on land use and tenure. These include the protected lands of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, semi-protected areas comprising Mara conservancies and the Loita forest and non-protected regions alongside an influence zone .While the County government of Narok manages the national reserve, semi-protected areas are overseen by group wildlife conservancies, balancing wildlife protection with regulated livestock grazing. Non-protected lands encompass a blend of rangeland, crop agriculture and individual settlements. The GMME encompasses 24 conservancies. According to GMME Management Plan 2023-2032, the County Government of Narok allocates 19% of the revenue generated from the Maasai Mara National Reserve to invest in community development and social projects within GMME. These projects include the construction of schools and health facilities, designed to enhance the infrastructure of the area. Residents of Talek have experienced significant enhancements in their community infrastructure through the establishment of essential facilities, including the Talek Maternal Newborn & Child Health Centre and the Talek Boys Secondary School.
Despite the benefits the National Reserve provides to the country and neighboring communities, it has faced numerous challenges over the years. Poaching remains a significant issue, particularly in the southern side of Mara, where poachers from Tanzania primarily hunt for bushmeat. Additionally, there is a concerning decline in wildlife species due to natural causes, including climate change and evolutionary factors. The reserve has also encountered significant challenges with vehicle congestion, especially during the peak period of the wildebeest migration.
To mitigate these issues, the National Reserve has implemented a zoning strategy, designating and marking areas as high-use and low-use zones. This approach aims to distribute tourist activity more evenly throughout the reserve, encouraging visitors to explore less crowded, low-use areas and thereby reducing the pressure on high-use zones.
Climate change has had a distinct impact on biodiversity, contributing to prolonged droughts, bushfires, floods all contributing to the death of wildlife. These environmental stresses have also driven humans to encroach on wildlife habitats in search of better grazing lands and refuge from degraded areas. Consequently, there has been an increase in wildlife hunting and poaching for meat.
Although Kenya Wildlife Services is in the process of developing a wildlife climate change strategy, the Maasai Mara has already taken proactive measures by not only identifying and marking high-use zones but also integrating advanced technology. In collaboration with the Footprint Foundation, the Mara has constructed a state-of-the-art technology command center to house various technological tools, including EarthRanger, which is currently utilized for multiple purposes, such as tracking endangered animals. One notable success story involves the rhino population, which has grown from 18 in 1983 to 80 in 2024. While this increase can be attributed to various factors, the use of EarthRanger to monitor rhinos has played a crucial role. This technology allows for the precise tracking of each animal, enabling the identification of injured rhinos that require rescue and treatment. Further, the technology command center will significantly improve the reserve's capability to address and alleviate other pressing challenges, including poaching and human-wildlife conflicts that have intensified due to climate change. By deploying advanced surveillance and monitoring systems, the centre aims to enhance incident response times and improve the overall management of the reserve.