Laikipia Wildlife Forum

[Laikipia]

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) is a dynamic, membership driven organisation conserving wildlife outside protected areas across the Ewaso ecosystem. Its motto: Conservation in Action reflects the spirit of the people who take part in this forum, which brings together local community initiatives, private ranchers, pastoralists, small scale farmers, and tourism ventures. They are united in the pursuit of a common goal – to conserve the integrity of the Laikipia ecosystem, by creatively managing natural resources to improve the livelihood of its people.

The organisation was created in response to an initiative by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) designed to engage landowners and land users in the conservation and management of wildlife in non-protected areas. Since its inception, the LWF has expanded the scope of its activities to encompass a more holistic and livelihood approach to conservation.

Primary Objectives include

The maintenance of ecosystem integrity and processes
The establishment and development of community conservation projects in wildlife dispersal landscapes
The development of wildlife-based enterprises
Organisational Structure

In 1995, the LWF was registered as a non profit company limited by guarantee. LWF’s membership base represents over 200 000 people, and for logistical purposes, the LWF’s operating area has been divided into 5 units, each of which has been assigned a community liaison officer. The Forums objectives are being realised through its five operational programme areas: Community Conservation, Wildlife Management, Tourism Development, Environmental Education, and Security
http://www.laikipia.org/

[whitestarling]

That is exactly the sort of project that Africa needs to conserve it's wildlife in harmony with its human population, if this could be spread through out the continent there may be yet hope for us all Animals, and Humans
Thanks for putting this on Lai, it's really great to read something positive
WS

[Safari Maiden]

Fabulous Lai.

As WS said its great that everyone is working together for the common goal of protecting and conserving the Laikipia Ecosystem.

SM

[Laikipia]

April update from LWF

April 2010 E-news
LWF would like to introduce the Laikipia Unity Cup – an initiative of the Zeitz Foundation in partnership with LWF, with support from the UN Environment Programme, Safaricom and the British and Kenyan Armies. Being held for the first time this June and July in Laikipia, the football tournament will be an annual event that will promote unity, contribute to peace building efforts, conservation and local development, and will raise awareness of environmental and conservation issues. The patron is Samuel Eto’o - international football star and captain of the Cameroon national team. The football tournament will take place at five different locations around Laikipia. Each LWF unit and their members are key partners and organisers of the event in their respective regions.

Tourism

Development of the Laikipia (tourism) map is ongoing with Ramani Geosystems. Fieldwork to map the road network has been completed, and Laikipia landowners have been given the opportunity to comment.

Wildlife Management

Stakeholders of the West Laikipia Fence met to discuss the linking up of the fence across the Ewaso Narok swamp from Ol Maisor and Ngorare ranch. To minimize development costs and long-term maintenance, it was resolved that a 2.5km fence would be built across the swamp. To protect the Mathira community from elephant raiding their crops, a 36km ring fence around the cultivated areas was proposed.

In an effort to resolve the human-elephant conflict in the Mwenje area, western Laikipia, an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) has been carried out for the proposed 25km elephant fence which will run parallel to the Laikipia Nature Conservancy boundary.

The LWF Uaso Narok CLO organised training on fence management and repairs by ADC Mutara fencers for 15 community members from Rumuruti Forest. Funded by CDF (Community Development Fund), a new 8km section of 2 strand fencing on the Rumuruti - Mayu section has been completed to help mitigate human-elephant conflict.

Community Conservation

Becca Biddle from Chester Zoo’s education department spent 2 weeks in Laikipia familiarising herself with conservation work on the ground, to help bring to life the conservation messages taught to school children within Chester city. Hosted by LWF, Becca visited pastoralist communities to understand the daily challenges of living in rural areas, community tourism initiatives, bio-enterprises, and other community conservation projects.

Facilitated by the LWF Uaso Nyiro CLO, the interim committee of the Mid Ewaso WRUA (Water Resourse Users Association) (also known as MEWUA) met to finalise their draft constitution, and to complete the process of registration. 13 committee members drawn from the Naibunga community groups, conservancies in Samburu District (Meibae, West gate, Samburu National Reserve, Kalama group ranch), and Ngare Mara village – all of whom depend on the Ewaso Nyiro River.

The contractor completed and handed over one ethno-botanical produce depot centre located at Lolldaiga Farm.

LWF participated in a Naibunga board meeting, where ‘sandalwood’ poaching and ways to intervene were discussed. Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) locally known as Muthirioni is a small evergreen tree used for teas and perfumes.

LWF attended a meeting called by the Laikipia West DC for directors of land buying companies, to discuss the issue of absentee landlords. Affected areas as a result of long term insecurity include Narok Ranch, Mifugo Ranch, Maundu ni Meri, Mutukanio, Mathira, Thome 4A and Laikipia west farmers. It was resolve that together with the land owners, a plan for product land use be established.

Rumuruti Forest Association CFA (Community Forest Association) received tree nursery equipment including wheelbarrows, spades, rakes and watering cans from CDTF to support the establishment of their nursery. LWF along with other stakeholders including Govt departments, area chiefs and neighboring ranches, attended a RFA stakeholders meeting where their management plan was discussed and stakeholder involvement encouraged.

The LWF North Western CLO attended a Tree is Life Trust stakeholders workshop to develop a strategic plan for the next 4 years. Key activities included in the plan were forest management, capacity building and environmental education.

In line with Kenya Forest Service requirements for Participatory Forest Management – stage 4, Shamanek CFA and partners including LWF, reviewed their forest management plan in order to to harmonise their constitution.

With water conservation identified as a priority by Ngusishi and Sirimon WRUA’s, LWF supported a technical training for farmers from both sub-catchment areas on the use of irrigation technology. Over 400 farmers from each WRUA were introduced to drip kits by experienced personnel, including the suppliers of the equipment. The training which lasted 4 days focused on capacity building of the WRUA members to enable them to carry out drip irrigation on their small farms to minimise water wastage.

Rangeland Rehabilitation Programme update
The current good rains have allowed progress for dialogue and training with communities on land rehabilitation through planned grazing. A 2-day workshop was held with Makurian group ranch to resume and scale up planned grazing in Katunga village starting this wet season, and Oreteti conservation area in the coming dry season. A similar workshop was held on Il N’gwesi to initiate planned grazing for Sanga village this wet season, and at Il Ngwesi conservation buffer zone the coming dry season. Ol Maisor ranch continues on its path of managing holistically with emphasis on planned grazing, community engagement to the north and south, and financial management.

Environmental Education

The Environmental Education Programme guided 5 secondary and 7 primary schools on environmental education trips to Ol Pejeta and Laikipia Nature Conservancy during the month of March. A total of 348 students and 24 teachers benefitted.



Lai

[Laikipia]

E-news from Laikipia Wildlife Forum - January 2011

http://www.laikipia.org/lwf-news-gg/e-news.html

Lai

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