The Laikipia Wildlife Forum: Helping People and Wildlife Thrive in Central KenyaMuch of Laikipia District looks pristine, untouched by human hands. Its secret, though, is that much of this huge wild area is managed by many players: Maasai communities; commercial ranchers; tourism operators, women's groups, game scouts; scientists; government authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These groups and individuals are united by an unusual organization that helps guide their efforts: the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF). LWF has been receiving financial support from the USAID/Kenya Environmental program since 1998.
USAID began funding LWF under the COBRA program in 1998. Pact Inc. has been administering a sub-award to LWF for USAID and providing training and other organizational support through the CORE program (follow-on to COBRA) since 2000. "The main thing the USAID grants and Pact support have done for us is to put this organization on a solid footing," says Jonathan Moss, Executive Director of LWF. LWF 's key program results include: SecurityCattle raiders and armed bandits made safety a paramount concern during the 1990s, for residents, tourists and wildlife alike. In response, LWF used USAID funding to help develop a security-radio network that today links 92 points, many with multiple users. Any suspicious activity is immediately reported to all; authorities can rapidly respond as needed. "Today, there is no commercial poaching in Laikipia at all," says Julius Kimani, Senior Warden for KWS. Members credit the communication system with eliminating livestock raiding as well. LWF is currently linking Laikipia's radio system into the national security network run by the Kenya Tourism Federation. Wildlife managementIn striking contrast to the rest of Kenya outside protected areas, nearly every species of wildlife monitored is on the increase. "Laikipia has more elephants now than it has for over 100 years," says Moss. Some 3,200 showed up in an independent census in 2002, partially funded by the CORE sub-award.
"Before LWF was there, we knew there were problems with elephants," says KWS Senior Warden Julius Kimani. "It's only through KWS and the Forum working together that we're getting to know the numbers, distribution, and movement of the animals." Armed with data from KWS/LWF joint wildlife counts, and daily reports of every single "incident" of human-wildlife conflict, Kimani can now make better informed management decisions. For instance, based on data jointly collected KWS determined that at least 600 elephants from Laikipia need to be moved out of the District. They will help replenish populations in one or two other national parks. Community conservationThe Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), who received significant training by Pact/USAID under the CORE program, are assisting communities with more than 55 wildlife-friendly activities that contribute to community well-being and/or income. Recent outstanding community conservation efforts funded at least partially by the CORE sub-award include:
Tassia lodge and conservancy In addition, ranch members have committed to keeping their collective herd size at 40,000 livestock instead of the previous 100,000, to ease pressure on the land. Five years ago, there were no elephants on the group ranch. Today, some 450 wander the regenerated landscape. Community conservation projects
TourismOver the last two years, LWF has created an in-depth tourism development plan, focusing particularly on marketing Laikipia as a destination. On the books are a small information center, a tourism officer to work with travel agents and operators, as well as a website and series of marketing materials already being used. Enviromental educationRecently, LWF secured funding for both an environmental education officer and a 32-seat bus so that schoolchildren may visit nature conservancies and learn about their natural heritage. Measures of SuccessOne way of judging LWF's success is through its efforts at leveraging funds. During the life of the $300,000 USAID sub-award LWF received under CORE it has managed to leverage nearly $500,000 from other sources. Also, the sheer number of people potentially benefiting from LWF is a strong indicator of success. In addition to large privately owned ranches, NGOs, individuals and tour and lodge operators LWF has 30 grass roots communities as members representing more than 133,000 people, or nearly 40% of the entire population of Laikipia. Pact/USAID is using the LWF organizational construct as a model for the development of several other forms across Kenya. Indeed LWF itself is working to help the neighboring and very nascent Samburu Wildlife Forum to get up and running. Finally, a way LWF judges its' own success is by the unity displayed by members. "LWF is successful in that it brings together the community and commercial farmers, ranchers and tourism operators, to speak in one voice" says Chairman Gilfrid Powys.
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Launched in 1992 as a voluntary association of large landowners, LWF has evolved into a well structured, professional organization dedicated to helping the District manage wildlife for the benefit of people as well as the ecosystem. LWF, thanks largely to support from USAID/Kenya, performs extensive organizational development of community-based organizations, leverages donor funds, and enables Laikipia's many stakeholders to work together for the common good.
Twenty years ago, cattle was king; only about a third of Laikipia ranches and communities welcomed wildlife on their land. But over the years Forum members have been demonstrating how communities can benefit from wildlife. By 2002, more than two-thirds of the District's ranchers and communities had become wildlife-friendly. The rest are mostly farming communities in the west and south. To ensure that those areas don't suffer wildlife damage, strategic fencing is a major part of a seven-point plan that LWF facilitated to reduce wildlife conflict across the District.
Naibunga Conservancy