Final answer:
The establishment of national parks and nature reserves in the twentieth century restricted the Maasai's access to grazing lands for their cattle. This was part of a broader set of challenges faced by nomadic and indigenous communities due to conservation efforts and government policies to promote tourism and secure national borders, often resulting in displacement and enforced lifestyle changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the twentieth century, national parks and nature reserves were paramount in restricting the Maasai's access to grazing lands for their cattle. The Maasai are a traditional pastoralist community for whom cattle are not only a sign of wealth but are central to their culture and livelihood. The establishment of protected areas such as Kenya's Amboseli National Park and Mount Kenya National Park limited their traditional nomadic lifestyle, underpinning efforts by the government to encourage tourism and conserve the environment.
The creation of these protected areas led to the Maasai and other indigenous communities like the Hadza and the San facing eviction from their ancestral lands, curbing their rights to hunt, gather, and graze their livestock. This displacement often occurred under the premise of conserving natural habitats and promoting ecotourism, though critics argue that there are sometimes underlying motives such as mining interests or the commercialization of conservation through initiatives like the Campfire program.
Additionally, modern nation-states with permanent borders have historically viewed nomadic groups like the Maasai as challenging their sovereignty and security. These tensions, along with the allure of industrialized living, have pressured many nomads to abandon their traditional way of life. Government policies aimed at conserving wildlife have had both positive and negative consequences on indigenous populations, with some measures protecting animals like elephants but restricting local communities from accessing resources necessary for their survival.