1. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF
ONGAYO-GEMBE HILLS ECOSYSTEM FOR
ESTABLISHMENT OF A WILDLIFE
SANCTUARY IN SUBA SUB-COUNTY
NAME:DAVID ADINDA
ADM:DWM/300/014/024
SUPERVISOR:MR.ASHER ODHIAMBO
Date: 10/03/2016
2. JUSTIFICATION
The researcher anticipated the study to be a vital one
and sought to find the reality on this region’s
potentials for establishment of wildlife sanctuary.
Significance of the study
The findings of this study provide a basis
for protected area managers and decision-
makers to formulate or modify existing
conservation strategies for the PAs.
3. Research questions
• What were the biodiversity resources found in
Ongayo-Gembe hills ecosystem in Suba Sub County?
• How would the establishment of wildlife sanctuary as
a land use impact on people, development and other
activities in Ongayo-Gembe area in Suba Sub-
County?
• What were the local communities’ attitudes and
perception towards wildlife conservation in Ongayo-
Gembe ecosystem in Suba Sub County?
4. Research Objectives
• To document the biodiversity resources found in
Ongayo-Gembe ecosystem in Suba sub-County.
• To examine the possible impacts of establishment of
wildlife sanctuary on people, development and other
activities in Ongayo-Gembe ecosystem in Suba Sub
County.
• To examine the local communities’ attitudes and
perceptions towards wildlife sanctuary establishment in
Ongayo-Gembe hills ecosystem in Suba Sub County.
5. Scope of the study
This research study was carried covered
Ong’ayo and Nyandiwa villages of the central
division of Suba Sub County in Homa Bay
County of the larger Nyanza province.
Research Methodology
Design- This study adopted both survey and
naturalistic observation design. Unobtrusive
observation was employed to evaluate wildlife
resource
6. Study population
The study populations encompassed the local
communities in Kaksingiri East location of the
central division, Suba sub county.
Sample size
A sum of 40 questionnaire were distribute in the
two villages depending on their population
densities as follows:
Ong’ayo = (3893÷9787x40) =16,
Nyandiwa= (5894÷9787x40) = 24
7. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE
For biodiversity resources inventory, the area
was divided into 10 blocks of 100x100m from
the boundary of Gembe hills.
In each block, four transects of 100m2 running
from one end of each other were established to
sample birds, mammals, reptiles and
amphibians.
8. DATAANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
• Data collected were analyzed using Microsoft Excel
for frequency and percentages. The findings are
presented in graphs and frequency tables.
Research limitations
Competing daily chores among respondents
especially in farms made it very difficult to find them
at home.
Un-predictable weather conditions made it hard to do
data collection during some days of the research
period.
9. From the result above, Males (63.3%) Females
(36.7%). On Age factor the respondents between31-40
(30%),41-50 (26.7%),21-30 (23.3%),18-20(13.3%) and
lastly 50< (6.7%).
10.
11.
12. The above figure shows the biodiversity resource in Ongayo-
Gembe hills in terms of habitat types with forest at 48%,
ecotones 15%,Grassland 14%, shrub and bush land at 10% each
while wetland is 3%
13. The figure above illustrates some of the possible outcomes
that the respondents associate with the establishment of the
wildlife sanctuary in the Ongayo-Gembe hills ecosystem.
14. Local communities’ attitudes and perceptions
towards wildlife sanctuary establishment in Ongayo-
Gembe hills ecosystem in Suba sub county.
15. DISCUSION
Biodiversity Resources found in Ongayo-Gembe hills ecosystem
The wide range of habitats that stretch across this ecosystem has made it
possible for great diversity of animals which includes an abundance of
birdlife, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and even insect as each taxa finds
at least a home that suits its daily living conditions.
Possible Impacts of establishment of a wildlife sanctuary in
the Ongayo-Gembe hills area.
The study found out that employment opportunities ,
infrastructural development , Social amenities development,
Abolition of agriculture are some of the possible impacts that
may arise from the establishment of the wildlife sanctuary
16. Local communities’ attitudes and perceptions towards
wildlife sanctuary establishment in Ongayo-Gembe hills
ecosystem
Study found that possible denied access to important
livelihood source since protected areas in developing
countries are often viewed as a source of income
from timber, oil, mineral exploitation, or tourism by
the government (Putz, 1988) .
Lack of involvement of the community members
Possible HWC, culture erosion from tourist activities
were some perceptions of the respondents.
17. CONCLUSION
The study found out that Ongayo-Gembe hills ecosystem
has a very high potential for wildlife conservation basing
on the abundance of indigenous habitats with indigenous
plant and animal life
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend the county government of Homa bay to
take an initiative of facilitating such projects as a way
of enhancing community development while
improving its tax base and revenue generation.
I recommend other researchers to conduct their
studies in the same area so as to determine some other
crucial components of this ecosystem that might not
have been touch during this study.
