SOCIAL LNSTITUTIONS FOR ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: THE CASE OFAMARIE KUNA IN BORENA-SAYNT NATIONAL PARK

This study aims to assess Amarie-Kuna Traditional Ecological Knowledge Systems (TEKSs) of the local communities towards utilization, management and conservation of the natural resources, its set values and norms and, comparative advantages with modern schemes in Borena-Saynt National Park. It tries to unleash information gaps pertaining to traditional practices and norms in relation to ecological functions and, legal and institutional frameworks so far operational in the study area. The assessment was conducted on four major vegetation communities through interviews made with 30 households and 10 key informants (KII) and, discussion with 45 focus groups (FGD). Representative of the local communities were considered and put in to place. Collected data arranged and organized using SPSS Ver. 16 of recorded data using questionnaires and checklists. Data analysis and interpretation held using descriptive statistics methods and techniques. With respect to values and norms set under Amarie-Kuna customary practices, main points were discussed with FGD and KII. From a total of 30 interviewed households, the majority marked preference (72%) for community-based rather than government-led ecosystem management system for the sustainability of the Borena-Saynt National Park. Most argued for the beneficial aspects of the traditional management systems (87%), and few mentioned the Amarie-Kuna customary practices, used for centuries to protect the sacred Denkoro-Chaqa from various disturbance factors such as fire, encroachment to critical habitats, allow free movement of wild, animals unlike the current act of deterrence by dogs, illegal wood cuts by distant dwellers, somehow reducing intensive grazing via rotation and, protect the forest by the community themselves unlike the current mode of protection by guards. Hence, the future park management system should apply the traditional institutional system in complementary with the modern park management scheme.