EAZA Rhino Campaign Project B: Environmental education programme at the Laikipia Wildlife Forum

Location: Laikipia Wildlife District
Species: Black (Diceros bicornis michaeli), White (Ceratotherium simum simum)
Coordinator: Dr Anthony King, Laikipia Wildlife Forum
Type: Environmental education
Amount awarded: 27,400 euros

Abstract
Laikipia is home to over half of Kenya’s black rhinos, in addition to other threatened species such as the reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest and Grevy’s zebra.

There are currently some 33 million Kenyans. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be 45 million. Pressure on protected areas and the wildlife within them, even those with such enlightened policies as Laikipia, will increase unless we look at ways in which to knit conservation with development.

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF)’s objectives are being realised through its five operational programme areas: Community Conservation, Wildlife Management, Tourism, Education and Security. As a result Laikipia is the one district in Kenya that continues to record increasing or stable wildlife populations, in contrast to the declining trend throughout the country. Wildlife population densities in the Laikipia region now rank second only to the internationally renowned Masai Mara ecosystem in Kenya.

The Environmental Education (EE) programme, which has been running since January 2004, recognises that the long-term sustainability of conservation efforts in Laikipia is inextricably linked to the environmental awareness of local school children. The LWF hopes that by encouraging involvement through environmental education, the next generation of responsible, committed Kenyans will work for the sustained conservation of the Laikipia ecosystem. The great majority of Kenyan children have never seen wildlife in their natural environment, despite living in a country with rich wildlife resources and an economy dependent on wildlife tourism. Through the efforts of the LWF, Laikipia school children have begun a process that sees the gradual reversal of this situation. There are 231 primary schools in Laikipia District, with an enrolment of 70,730 pupils, and a further 10,866 pupils in 43 secondary schools. The LWF education programme aims to link these schools with existing environmental education initiatives across the District.

The environmental education programme has been running since January 2004, and over the past 18 months the LWF has closely monitored and evaluated the delivery of the programme. Certain targets have been adjusted for 2006 and 2007 in the light of experience.

Support
The EAZA Rhino Campaign will fund the LWF’s Environmental Education programme during the calendar year 2007.