Laikipia Wildlife Forum, P.O. Box 764, Nanyuki, Kenya .. Telephone / fax: 020 2166626 .. Mobile: 0726 500260 .. Email: info@laikipia.org
© 2002-2007 Laikipia Wildlife Forum. All rights reserved
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LWF welcomes John Elias as the new unit Director of Uaso Nyiro unit, whose role is to support the implementation of LWF’s activities on the ground.
LWF is inviting interested qualified persons to apply for the position of Community Liaison Office (CLO) for the North Western unit. Applications to be sent to director@laikipia.org by 30th September 2007.
LWF was pleased to host Wangeci Mwai, Business Advisory Services Manager for Tourism Trust Fund, at the LWF office and Laikipia Information Centre for the first time since the facility was developed in 2005.
To support LWF’s efforts in destination marketing and maintenance of the Laikipia ecosystem, the voluntary Bed Night Levy (BNL) scheme was set up in 2002 and to date has raised an incredible 3.6 million shillings from tourism members. LWF would like to thank Borana, Lewa Wilderness, Loisaba, Lolldaiga Ranch, Off Beat Safaris and Ol Pejeta Conservancy for contributions received this year.
LWF continues to place a ‘News from Laikipia’ article in Travel News every month. Members are welcome to send conservation focused stories to LWF for consideration.
Fencing committees have been formed along each section of the Laikipia West Elephant fence and LWF CLO’s have mobilised communities to provide labour for their respective sections. KWS has committed a fence technician, and work is expected to begin soon.
Max Graham of Laikipia Elephant Research Project conducted a 4 day “Getting to Know Elephants” course for wildlife scouts in Laikipia. The LWF Uaso Narok and Central unit CLO’s benefited from the course, which covered subjects on how to identify individual elephants, distinguishing between male and females, and monitoring elephant mortality.
LWF with group ranch communities and members of conservancies from all over Northern Kenya gathered at Andanguru plain in Mukogodo Forest to show support to the Il N’gwesi community over the recent court ruling in favour of Wendy Martin, who was injured by an elephant whilst staying at Il N’gwesi Lodge.
The LWF ED guided a Nation reporter to 3 community lodges in Laikipia (Ol Gaboli, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille and Koija Star Beds) which resulted in a one-page colour spread in the Business Daily.
The LWF ED met with the Vice President of The Nature Conservancy where opportunities for involvement in Laikipia were discussed.
The LWF ED attended a ‘leaders’ meeting at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where demonstrations on conservation activities and developments were held – to help raise awareness amongst local community leaders.
LWF and NRT are exploring ways to collaborate in rangeland rehabilitation activities and provide greater support to Naibunga Conservancy Trust.
LWF hosted USAID GATE Project team (Greater Access to Trade Expansion) to women-led projects within Laikipia including Ol Gaboli Community Lodge and Rumuruti Aloe Women’s Group. The GATE team is undertaking a study to examine gender related opportunities and constraints in nature based enterprises.
The LWF TA and TDO attended a 3 day USAID GATE Gender Training Course, where the theme was “Integrating Gender into USAID/Kenya’s Programs for Agriculture, Business and the Environment”.
Coordinated by the LWF Central unit CLO and supported by Safaricom Foundation, a total of 38 members from Mutara, Ngobit, Rongai and Ewaso Nyiro Water River User Associations (WRUA) benefited from water management training, with emphasis on leadership and communication, governance and gender, conflict resolution, and financial management. The CLO also prepared members living on riparian land to plant indigenous trees during the forthcoming rains.
LWF attended the project launch of Burguret RWUA by European Union/Community Environment Facility grant for conservation of the catchment areas and sustainable management of the rivers.
The LWF Eastern and Uaso Narok CLO’s are supporting Community Forest Associations in Mukogodo and Rumuruti to undertake Participatory Forest Management (PFM). To enhance their understanding of the principles and issues related to PFM planning and implementation, the CLO’s are currently attending a 2-week course being run by the MS-Training Centre for Development Cooperation in Arusha, Tanzania.
The LWF CCPM, with ILMAMUSI committee members, has initiated Forest Act awareness meetings to help the community living adjacent to the Mukogodo forest to better understand their roles in conservation and management of the natural resources. With FORREMS support, LWF continues to assist ILMAMUSI scouts to patrol the Mukogodo forest for security and data collection on logging, grazing, fires, poaching and other activities.
With FORREMS support, the Eastern CLO continues to assist communities in Daiga area to establish woodlots, with 2 new ones initiated in August. With LWF support, the KFS (Kenya Forest Service) is training farmers on best practices to ensure maximum survival of seedlings.
The LWF has supported the Oreteti PIC (Project Implementation Committee) to develop project workplans and open a bank account for their EU/CEF funded range rehabilitation and environmental restoration project. The project has received the first tranche to set up a conservation area, hire project manager, construction of rock catchments and develop security infrastructure.
Following an introduction to the Makurian Community on Holistic Management in June facilitated by LWF, the community have expressed their willingness to carry on with the alternative rangeland rehabilitation techniques. With FORREMS support, Richard Hatfield, gave a further introduction on principles of Holistic Management to the wider community, and helped identify a small group of committed members to implement the techniques for a year on an identified site to test the process.
The LWF EEO participated in a one-week teacher’s training workshop on environment conservation held at Elsamere Field Study Center in Naivasha. The training, which was fully funded by Elsamere with participants from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, focused on the challenges, conflicts, and strategic environmental analysis and resource use.
In August the LWF Environmental Education Programme guided 6 schools (174 pupils and 17 teachers) to Laikipia Nature Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
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