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 LWF was established in 1992 by private and communal landowners with common interests in managing, conserving, and benefiting from wildlife resources in Laikipia. 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 StructureIn 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. Click here to view the LWF Organisational Structure GOVERNANCE The LWF is governed by a Board of Directors. This is elected annually by the respective memberships of the six geographical management “units”, comprising all of Laikipia District, and including Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to the east. Additional Directors include the KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service) District Warden and those co-opted from the Mpala Research Centre (MRC) and Laikipia’s Tourism Sector. EXECUTIVE RESOURCES The LWF employs an Executive Director, a Project Development Officer, a Community Conservation Officer, a Tourism Officer, an Environmental Education Officer, an Administration & Finance Officer and 6 field-based Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) who facilitate collaboration at a community level. 
The executive unit has fully equipped offices based at Nanyuki Airfield, 3 vehicles, a 50 seat Environmental Education bus, 6 field based motorcycles and a comprehensive communication and radio network spanning the entire region. The LWF is the first institution of its kind to develop capacity for community conservation and wildlife management at this level on a district-wide level in Kenya.
LWF Partners Programme Areas Community Conservation Programme focuses on five themes; rangeland restoration, trees and reforestation, management of river and wetland water resources, conservation enterprise, and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict. This Programme concentrates on promoting the linkages between environmental conservation and livelihoods improvement. This is by far the largest of LWF programmes. Read more... Wildlife Management Programme coordinates efforts by LWF members and conservation organisations (KWS, Mpala Research Centre, African Wildlife Foundation and Northern Rangelands Trust) working in Laikipia to protect wildlife. The LWF has been the first institution of its kind to develop a significant capacity to foster development and conservation goals on a district-wide level in Kenya. Read more... Tourism Development Programme helps members to coordinate effort on optimising the tourism potential of Laikipia and promote Laikipia as a leading safari destination. Read more... Environmental Education Programme continues to advance environmental education in the Laikipia District, by linking both adults and children to environmental activities and conservation enterprises in the Laikipia District and beyond. The programme targets the 274 Primary schools (approximately 84,000 pupils), and 60 secondary schools (approximately 13,000 pupils) annually. Read more... LWF’s Security Programme continues to manage and maintain a highly valued VHF Security radio network, linking communities with the police, KWS and the local administration. Read more...
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