Human-giraffe coexistence: Community nature-based enterprises as a basis for Somali giraffe conservation in eastern Kenya

Abstract

Nature based solution is gaining recognition globally to solve environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. This study examines a nature-based mitigation strategy by assessing the economic viability of lime farming as a deterrent to giraffe crop-raiding in Garissa County, Kenya. We compared lime prices across three market channels (companies, local markets and middlemen) and analyzed the relationship between crop type and giraffe conflict frequency on 101 farms between 2022 and 2024. Statistical analysis showed that lime sold to companies yielded significantly higher returns than to local markets or middlemen. The mean price was 71.25 units (company) versus 43.33 units (local market), with a highly significant t-value of 17.888 (p < 2.2e-16). ANOVA confirmed significant price variation across market types (F (2,105) = 375.5, p < 0.0001). Tukey HSD tests showed that middlemen offered 35.56 units less than companies (p < 0.001) and 7.64 units less than local markets (p < 0.001). Lime farms generated higher monthly incomes than mango farms, with lime median income around 250,000 units versus 80,000 units for mango. Conflict analysis revealed a strong inverse relationship between lime farm acres and giraffe conflict incidents. Mango farms experienced significantly higher crop-raiding (up to 20 incidents) compared to lime farms (typically 0–3 incidents), suggesting giraffes preferentially raid mango crops.