The LWF's Community Conservation (CC) programme

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum's Community Conservation programme was designed to knit together conservation and development aiming to mobilize people, and to build the capacity within local communities to creatively manage their natural resources, reverse environmental degradation and improve livelihoods. Since its launch in 2002, the programmes have facilitated numerous individual projects benefiting some 300,000 of the 400,000 people living in the Laikipia District. Many of Kenya’s community wildlife projects now use the Forum’s successful model.

Keeping in touch with new trends and developments in the conservation arena, the Forum demonstrates how sustainable living improves resource allocation, and shows that wildlife can be economically viable. It also sensitises communities and group ranches to responsible management of natural resources. The nature-based initiatives are developed with community groups, are self-sustaining in the long run and:

• generate income
• improve resource allocation
• preserve and manage wildlife

The Community Conservation programme focuses on five themes:

• Water resources management
• Forest management and reforestation
• Rangeland rehabilitation and management
• Conservation enterprise development
• Human-wildlife conflict mitigation

The initiatives have become an effective catalyst for social change through natural resource management. The LWF’s 10-year plan addresses the following:

Water resources management:
Water resource management leading to fairer distribution of water and less wasted water
Identifying water catchment areas to improve rainwater collection
Forest management and reforestation:
Community forest management and extensive tree planting for the commercial market, including: sustainable fuel, timber, bio-fuels and medicinal products
Community tree planting and establishment of tree nurseries on farms for carbon trading
Rangeland rehabilitation and management:
Bio-enterprises such as aloe production and commercialization in dry areas, development of sites for bio-fuel and / or medical and herbal products as an alternatives to the traditional and unsustainable cattle-keeping practices
Range-land rehabilitation through holistic grazing management leading to improved soil quality and productivity for cattle keeping
Conservation enterprise development:
Developing eco-tourism projects such as tourist lodges, beadwork and cultural activities some of which are solely managed by women
Human-wildlife conflict mitigation:
Creating chili fences to keep elephants from destroying crops
Constructing predator-proof bomas (livestock pens) and strategic fencing

Each year, the LWF’s Board and Unit Directors agree short-term objectives and activities as described in a 32-page work plan. They must all relate back to the above 10-year plan and mission statement.