Introduction

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum Community Conservation  Programme was initiated in 2002 with the aim of knitting together community development and environmental conservation, as the vast majority of people in Laikipia directly depend on natural resources, be they pastoralists, ranchers, small scale farmers, large scale farmers or tourism operators.

Programme Objectives

• To promote community-based natural resource management initiatives
• To improve the livelihoods of local communities through sound wildlife and environmental management.

How the Programme Works

Community Conservation Programme Manager (CCPM):   Josephat Musyima manages the Community Conservation Programme, and is primarily responsible for undertaking community-based conservation activities, ensuring that local communities have the capacity to prepare for and sustain profitable nature-based enterprises that have a positive conservation impact.  The innovative activities undertaken are demand-driven, and LWF plays a coordinating role, with implementation of projects being accomplished by community groups with support from LWF members.

Community Liaison Officers (CLO): Supporting activities on the ground is a team of five Community Liaison Officers who work as catalysts for the initiation of development projects, working together with community groups.  Their main task is to increase the community development and conservation impact of the LWF at grass-root level through regular communication and liaison with community groups. 

Focal Areas: Community Conservation Programme focuses on five themes: Rangeland Restoration; Trees and Reforestation; Management of Rivers and Water Resources; Conservation Enterprise; and Mitigation of Human-Wildlife conflicts

• Rangeland Restoration aims to improve rangeland grazing management:

• Building the capacity of community groups to implement integrated grazing management plans
• Field-based practical training in improved range rehabilitation
• Development and implementation of grazing management strategies i.e. Holistic Management principles
  

• Trees and Reforestation - Increased tree cover and conservation awareness

• Tree planting for riparian land, river catchment conservation and indigenous forest restoration
• Community group support to plant woodlots for sustainable fuel, timber, bio-fuels, medicinal products, carbon market.
• Establishment of demo sites/learning centres for communities living inside the forest exhibiting wood fuel energy saving cooking systems.
• Tree planting by Community Forest Associations (CFA) and River Water User Associations (RWUA's). 
  

• Management of Rivers and Water Resources - increasing participation of community groups in river water use:

• Development of a water resources management strategy for LWF to support conservation of ecosystem integrity for wildlife resources and improved human livelihoods
• Capacity building and strengthening of RWUAs for 13 rivers to better manage their activities for water resources management 
• Education and training for members of RWUAs 
• Development of a 5 year river management plan for each river
  

• Conservation Enterprise - Increased opportunities for the creation of conservation enterprises:

• Adoption of aloe commercial production by small scale land owners as an alternative source of land use, and establishing the potential for scaling up aloe based business in Laikipia
• Bio-enterprise study carried out to explore the commercial potential for indigenous herbs, trees and plants
• Study evaluating the potential uses of the invasive Opuntia Species
• On going marketing campaign to promote wild camping opportunities in Laikipia’s wild rangelands
• Development of new eco-tourism facilities (e.g Oreteti Star Beds and Yaaku Cultural Museum in Mukogodo forest)
  

• Mitigation of Human-Wildlife Conflict:

• Construction of the 83km West Laikipia electric fence to reduce human-elephant conflict
• Long-term fence maintenance strategy  
• Fence maintenance training and maintenance support 

More Info: Josephat Musyima – Community Conservation Programme Manager

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