Sustainable Livelihood Strategies for National Parks Wildlife Conservation in South Sudan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jmh.3515Keywords:
Sustainable Livelihood Strategies, National Parks, Wildlife Conservation, local communities, South SudanAbstract
Purpose: The main aim of the study was to investigate the sustainable livelihood strategies for national parks wildlife conservation in South Sudan. The study sought to specifically determine the effect of diversification of income sources, tourism-based initiatives, community participation and conflict mitigation on national parks wildlife conservation in South Sudan.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional design and quantitative research approach were employed to collect data from communities residing near six national parks in South Sudan. The target population comprised approximately 580,000 individuals, from which a sample of 384 respondents was selected using stratified and proportionate sampling based on park representation. The data was analyzed using quantitative methods with regression analysis employed to assess the effect of sustainable livelihood strategies on wildlife conservation.
Findings: The study findings revealed that diversification of income sources, tourism-based initiatives, community participation, and conflict mitigation strategies collectively accounted for approximately 79.3% of the variance in wildlife conservation. Community participation emerged as the strongest predictor (β = .309, t (379) = 8.65, p < .001), underscoring the critical role of local involvement in conservation efforts. Conflict mitigation was similarly influential (β = .302, t (379) = 8.09, p < .001), highlighting the importance of addressing human–wildlife conflicts to sustain conservation gains. Diversification of income sources was a significant predictor (β = .267, t (379) = 7.07, p < .001), indicating that livelihood diversification contributes meaningfully to conservation outcomes. Tourism-based initiatives also had a positive effect (β = .136, t (379) = 3.70, p < .001), though weaker compared to other predictors.
Contribution to Policy, Theory and Practice: This study makes significant contributions to theory, policy, and practice by empirically extending the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) and Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) theory within fragile, post-conflict contexts, showing that wildlife conservation outcomes are optimized when socio-economic empowerment is integrated with participatory governance and conflict mitigation. For policy, the findings provide evidence-based guidance for governments and development agencies to design conservation policies that embed livelihood diversification, equitable benefit-sharing, and conflict-sensitive mechanisms into national park management, thereby enhancing legitimacy and sustainability. Practically, the study underscores the necessity of empowering local communities through inclusive participation, income-generating programs, and human–wildlife conflict reduction strategies, offering actionable models for conservation authorities and practitioners seeking to align biodiversity protection with poverty alleviation and community resilience in post-conflict regions.
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