A study that combined vegetation analysis with ethnobotanical approach was undertakenrnin Eselenkei and Kimana Group Ranches, in southern Kajiado, Kenya. The studyrnparticularly looked at the impact of setting aside conservation areas on woody species inrntraditionally pastoral rangelands. Systematic sampling was carried out to compare woodyrnspecies diversity, density, regeneration. Quantitative ethnobotanical methods based onrnsemi-structured interviews, paired comparisons of threatening activities to woody speciesrnand researcherâ€™s observations were also employed. These were to evaluate localrncommunity attitudes to conservation areas, their woody plant use and single out one mostrnthreatening activity to the existence of woody species in the two Group Ranches.rnShannon-Wiener diversity index (Hâ€™) of woody species was 1.078 and 1.758 in Eselenkeirnand 1.290 and 1.116 in Kimana in conserved and communal sites respectively and did notrndiffer significantly in both cases (P>0.05). Mean woody species density in Eselenkei wasrn290.52 stems/ha and 280.17stems/ha in conserved and communal sites respectively. InrnKimana, the mean woody density was 67.19 stems/ha and 107.82 stems/ha in Acaciarnxanthophloea woodland and 97 stems/ha and 57 stems/ha in Acacia tortilis woodland inrnconserved and communal sites respectively. There were no significant differences inrnmean densities in both study areas in conserved and communal sites (P>0.005). Morernseedlings and saplings were recorded in conserved areas than at communal areas in bothrnsites, though the differences were not significant (P>0.05). Fifty two percent ofrnrespondents in both sites were positive towards the conservation area within their GrouprnRanches. Men were more positive towards the conservation area in both sites comparedrnto women. Knowledge distribution of local plant use was not significantly differentrnbetween gender but the elderly were more knowledgeable than the youth (P