Laikipia Wildlife Forum, P.O. Box 764, Nanyuki, Kenya .. Telephone / fax: (254) 020 2166626 .. Mobile: 0726 500260 .. Email: info@laikipia.org
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To all Members, Friends and Supporters of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum
With support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy, LWF has acquired a light 2-seater ‘foxbat’ aircraft, which is currently being assembled at the coast.
LWF attended the launch of the Laikipia Highland Games at Laikipia Nature Conservancy on the 12th April. The event, coordinated by Kuki and Sveva Gallmann, is to become an annual event in memory of the late Emanuele Gallmann and to celebrate peace through sports for local communities.
LWF has submitted a pre-proposal to the IUCN Ecosystem Grants Programme’s Tourism and Biodiversity Fund to seek marketing support for Laikipia’s community based eco-tourism enterprises, and LWF’s marketing activities.
Agrotechno Resources Ltd, contractors for the West Laikipia Elephant Fence, have requested a 21 day extension on the original completion date of 12th April. Unforeseen delays have been caused by security issues, difficult terrain in places and ongoing repairs to sections broken by elephants.
The LWF Executive Director, Anthony King was interviewed by the Common Language Project (CLP) team on the link between water and human/wildlife conflict in Laikipia. The CLP reports news from around the world on issues that are under-represented in mainstream media.
Anthony met with African Conservation Center and AWF to share work programmes and identify areas to collaborate in conservation work in Laikipia and the Ewaso ecosystem.
LWF, with professional trainer Richard Hatfield, introduced the principles of Holistic Management for effective rangeland management and land restoration, to the Sek community of Kuri Kuri group ranch, and the community of Il N’gwesi group ranch.
‘Susie Wren Organic & Natural Products Advisor’, commissioned by LWF to establish the potential for scaling up aloe based business in Laikipia and identify opportunities to develop new aloe based enterprise, has presented her results to the LWF executive team. Two field days will be held in Laikipia to disseminate the results of this study.
A 5-day aloe training for 19 members from Naitabaya (Musul group ranch) and Naretate (Makurian group ranch) women’s groups took place in Dol Dol by Francis Kea – lead consultant for Kwale Herbal Producers. The training focused on aloe propagation, aloe processing for commercial uses and marketing.
Having supported Kenya Aloe Working Group (KAWG) in successfully lobbying for a regulatory framework for Kenya’s aloe sector, LWF is assisting with a publicity campaign to inform stakeholders and the public on the new guidelines through brochures, posters and calendars.
Set up for World Forest Day held last month, a demonstration at Lokusero Primary School in Mukogodo Forest showcasing practical energy saving cooking techniques, water heating systems and waste water recycling systems, has been made a learning center for communities living in and around Mukogodo. The technologies are the inspiration of James Kabao, founder of the ‘cooking for conservation’ programme, which is being widely introduced in Eastern unit with support from the LWF CLO, David Masere.
With the ending of the USAID FORREMS initiative, LWF called for a workshop of all partners, including Kenya Forest Service, KWS, NEMA, and Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), to document the experiences and lessons learnt during implementation. The workshop, held at Naro Moru River Lodge and facilitated by Nareda Consultants also gave an opportunity to review the Mukogodo Forest Management Plan before its dissemination.
LWF has placed sign boards at the sites of 8 projects in Eastern unit, to acknowledge support from the USAID FORREMS initiative.
The LWF has been encouraging communities in Laikipia, especially Community Forest Associations (CFA) and River Water User Associations (RWUA) to plant trees in deforested areas. In Uaso Narok unit, LWF has granted support to Shamanek CFA to plant 50,942 seedlings in woodlots, on riparian land, and within schools, dispensaries and the chief camps.
LWF is also supporting Mutara and Ewaso Ngiro RWUA to plant 5,000 indigenous trees along river banks, and a further 12,000 exotic trees on 15 acres of farmland within Tigithi, Withare and Ex Erock, and also at Sweetwaters Secondary Sschool. The LWF Central unit CLO Nteere facilitated meetings for Ngobit, Mutara, Rongai and Ewaso Ngiro RWUAs, where draft constitutions were presented to members for comments.
Coordinated by Martin Kahindi, LWF CLO Uaso Narok unit, 20 members of Pesi and Uaso Narok RWUAs benefited from an exposure tour to Isiolo to gain an insight into the management of other RWUAs. The same group also attended a seminar on water management in Rumuruti supported by Water Resource Management Authority.
In an effort to strengthen security in Naibunga Conservancy to safeguard grazing and conservation initiatives, the trustees of Naibunga have agreed to develop a zoning plan to help coordinate and implement grazing management and security plans, with ongoing support from LWF, NRT (Northern Rangelands Trust) and AWF (African Wildlife Foundation).
The LWF Environmental Education Officer Ephantus Mugo has been invited to Chester Zoo, England, for a 3 week exposure trip in June. Chester Zoo and Save the Rhino have supported the LWF Environmental Education Programme (EEP) since 2004, and Ephantus will have the opportunity to work closely with the zoo’s education team.
In March, the EEP guided 7 primary schools and 2 secondary schools on education tours to Ol Jogi Game Reserve and Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
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