Journal for Nature Conservation 19 (2011) 263–268 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal for Nature Conservation jou rn al h omepage: www.elsevier.de/jnc Using science to guide conservation: From landscape modelling to increased connectivity in the Taita Hills, SE Kenya Mwangi Githiru a,b,∗ , Luc Lens c , Frank Adriaensen a,c , James Mwang’ombe d , Erik Matthysen a a Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium b Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658 00100, Nairobi, Kenya c Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium d East African Wild Life Society, P.O. Box 1043, Wundanyi, Kenya a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 10 November 2009 Received in revised form 26 January 2010 Accepted 15 March 2011 Keywords: Forest fragmentation Least-cost modelling Stakeholder involvement Taita Hills a b s t r a c t Using science knowledge to guide conservation action remains difficult; communication gaps persist, especially between scientists and other stakeholders including policy makers. Here, we demonstrate how we have managed to integrate scientific knowledge into consensually formulated conservation actions in the Taita Hills, Kenya. GIS-based least-cost modelling, together with sociological and forest charac- teristics were used to determine and prioritise the most appropriate areas for reforestation from a set of exotic forest plantations targeted for conversion into indigenous forests. This prioritisation was done through a succession of three workshops (on site) used to reach multiple stakeholders, build consensus on conservation actions, and formulate an implementation framework. Indigenous tree nurseries have now been established to provide planting stock for the reforestation activities agreed upon after the final workshop. The key lesson we learned from this exercise was that bridging the gap between sci- ence and conservation demands a very open, inter-disciplinary strategy, initiated and executed jointly by a diverse group of people that includes the Government (policy-makers and implementers), NGOs (conservationists and environmental advocates), scientists (researchers), conservationists and the local community. This study provides a pointer for what it may take to integrate human issues with sustained environmental management based on scientific knowledge. © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Introduction Although a sound environmental base is necessary for sustain- able development, how to simultaneously achieve environmental and biodiversity conservation on the one hand, and socio-economic development on the other, remains elusive (Adams & Hulme 2001; Garnett et al. 2007; Hackel 1999; McShane & Wells 2004). This is, at least in part, due to the difficulty of harmonising scientific (bio- logical) recommendations with rural development needs, which are often seen to be in conflict. Translating scientific findings into conservation action remains difficult due to communication gaps across scientific disciplines, and gaps between scientists and other stakeholders such as Government (decision makers and imple- menters), NGOs (conservationists and environmental advocates) and local communities (Githiru 2007). Consequently, community- based conservation initiatives are often seen as expert-driven, undemocratic and autocratic (Brown 2003), where scientific (bio- ∗ Corresponding author at: Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658 00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel.: +254 20 3742161x263. E-mail address: mwangi githiru@yahoo.co.uk (M. Githiru). diversity) concerns are force-fed to other stakeholders without sufficient consultation or genuine participation. Extending the logic of Reid and Mace (2003) and others (Brooks & Thompson 2001), we emphasise four crucial steps leading to the elusive goal of science- based conservation embracing multiple stakeholders: (i) reliable data (biological, sociological, economic); (ii) effective communica- tion to ensure all key stakeholders understand one another; (iii) open consultations involving all stakeholders seeking consensual solutions; and (iv) effective implementation of the solutions iden- tified. Even with solid data, ultimately, all stakeholders must be engaged in discussions to identify the sources of the problems and attain consensual solutions. It is imperative that all these inter- ested parties are involved throughout the decision process, not only in the final stages (Kasperson 2006). In the tropics especially, environmental conservation must consider both human and biodi- versity issues since humans cannot be easily extricated from nature (Balmford et al. 2001). Habitat fragmentation ranks among the most severe threats to biodiversity worldwide (Laurance & Bierregaard 1997). Fragmen- tation breaks landscape connectivity (Andrén 1994; Tischendorf & Fahrig 2000). Increasing landscape connectivity is considered a vital element in enhancing long-term survival of small, isolated pop- 1617-1381/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.03.002