LAND CONSERVANCIES

MWCT has developed an ambitious model for a network of land conservancies zones focused on securing the integrity of key ecosystem components and services that lie within the Group Ranches in the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem. The network of land conservancies aim to protect the most ecologically important zones (wildlife corridors, grassland reserves, watersheds and springs) and the long term lease deals in our model would ensure that good stewardship of the ecosystem would also equate with meaningful sustainable revenue for the community.

To demonstrate the viability of this program MWCT has negotiated, and secured high-value conservancies, totaling 37,450 acres, for key habitat reserves, and a critical wetland – that lies directly within the wildlife migration corridor. This has shown the community that land protection and land leases are viable options supporting community development and an effective collaboration between conservation and development goals.

Years ago, Olpusare was home to thriving wildlife and an ecosystem that created a haven for a diverse group of flora and fauna. Within the last few years, it was transformed into farmland that eventually degraded and diminished the water sources, and native plant species and drove out many endangered wildlife species. In 2009, a severe drought decimated Maasai livestock causing unsustainable farming as an alternative livelihood. We secured this third conservancy zone of 450 acres around a key water source (Olpusare Spring) within the wildlife migration corridor and to found specific sources of long-term funding for the lease payments while also raising money for a permanent endowment to fund the land conservancies network with the aim of scaling the network throughout the ecosystem.

CURRENTLY, WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN THE PROTECTED LAND OF OLPUSARE THROUGH A CONSERVANCY AND CREATED AN ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACH THROUGH THE CREATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAMP TO SUPPORT ITS LONG-TERM PROTECTION.