SORALO - (Visit us @ soralo.org)

Honoring Learning at Lale’enok

2011-10-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

October 10th, 2011

Lale’enok Resource Center Impressions

By Anna Sakellariadis

Her black graduation robes, accented with a pile of traditional beaded necklaces, blended in among the colorful throng of Maasai women that came to greet Agnes Kamanga as she stepped from her car to the grounds of the Lale’enok Resource Center. The previous day, Agnes had graduated from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. On this day, she returned to her home in Olkiramatian Group Ranch to celebrate with four hundred members of the community.

Many came early to the resource center to help with the preparations. The women gathered in one corner, cooking chapatis, rice, and stew. Meanwhile, the men roasted a cow a little ways off from the buildings, out of the sight of women so that young warriors would be able to eat it. A church choir set up their instruments and began playing their music, which swelled throughout the whole site. Upon Agnes’s arrival around mid-day, the official celebration began.

Everyone gathered under the shade of the main building for songs, speeches, and even some cake, courtesy of Mama Jo. The gathering, which had been organized by Agnes’s husband, John, the group ranch chairman and head of the South Rift Association of Landowners, was an opportunity for the community to share in her achievement. Singers from Kajiado came specially to sing about the importance of education and environment. When it was Agnes’s turn to speak, she too stressed the importance of education for everyone.

The utterance of such messages under the thatched roof of the main building at Lale’enok reverberated against the efforts of the women’s group that manages the site. The group’s bursary fund, supported by the resource center’s revenues, is already sending some of the community’s neediest children to school.

And so, even when the official celebration had finished, and even after the subsequent feasting and socializing was over, still the lingering impressions of the day remain: a local woman has proudly earned a higher education degree, and schoolchildren in Olkiramatian are gaining in opportunities through the work of the center and the women that run it.

Posted By
Rahab Wandia

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF LALE`ENOK RESOURCE CENTRE

2011-03-07T23:56:00.000-08:00

On 4th march 2011 all vehicles from African conservation centre and SORALO drove towards Lale’enok resource centre in the south rift Magadi where we were officially launching the centre. It was an event that brought together more than 200 people both VIPs and the local community members. Lale`enok refers to the role Maasai scouts play in collecting information that affects the decisions for well-being of their livestock and families. It symbolizes the use of sound science in collaboration with local communities to achieve conservation goals.

The occasion was graced by Mr. Jaco Mebius, the Senior Policy Adviser for Environment, Water and Sanitation to the Royal Netherlands Embassy, who officially opened the centre, Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources Mr. Agatsiva, the Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture Mr. Simon Wachie, the director sites and monuments National Museums of Kenya Mr. Wario, country director Earth watch Mr. Nick Oguge, the director WCK Margret Otieno, Director KTB Mr. Ndegwa, KWS Mr. Korir, AWF Mr. Daudi Sumba, Eco-tourism Kenya Mr. Onesmus kahindi and the newly formed Taskforce for drafting the Legislation Implementing Land Use, Environment and Natural Resource Provisions of the Kenya Constitution were all present and the feedback was extremely positive from all fronts. SORALO Board members from all the 15 group ranches and community members also graced the occasion making it more colorful and joyous.

LONG LIVE LALE`ENOK, LONG LIVE OUR ENVIROMENT.

Posted by Rahab Wandia

A Historic meeting at Kwenia - Olorgesailie

2011-02-03T05:07:00.001-08:00

An historic meeting at Kwenia- Olorgesailie that aims to conserve this unique ecosystem and benefit Maasai communities - BY MUNIR VIRANI

Every journey begins with a small step. Over the last nine years my colleague Simon Thomsett and I have been monitoring populations of Ruppells vultures at the Kwenia cliffs in Kajiado district, about a three and half hour drive south of Nairobi. This colony is the largest breeding colony of species in southern Kenya and should be considered a national asset. Unfortunately, Kwenia has no conservation status whatsoever. The surrounding areas of Olorgesailie, Kilonito and oldonyo Nyokie also have no conservation status. These regions are harsh, arid and water deficient. In contrast and by virtue of being in the southern rift valley the region also contains some of the most diverse species of vertebrates on earth. Notwithstanding the importance of this very important vulture colony, other species such as lesser kudu, gerenuk, wild dogs, cheetah, hyena and myriad of raptor and other prolific birds abound. Olorgesailie is also an important prehistoric site, recognized globally as one of the places where early hominids used hand axes. Hominids fossils go back nearly nine hundred thousand years based on work conducted by Dr Rick Potts and his colleagues from the Smithsonian institution. The species of animals unearthed at Olorgesailie and other locations in southern Kenya changed over time as environmental conditions shifted time and again. Species of baboons, elephant, zebra, pigs and hippopotamuses that had been very abundant in the region went extinct. They were replaced by closely related species that still survive in east Africa today.

On 26th January, 2011, I had the pleasure of attending an historic meeting held at the Olorgesailie prehistoric site near Ol-Tepesi followed by a site visit at the base of the Kwenia vulture breeding cliffs. The meeting was organized by john Kamanga of SORALO (south rift association of land owners) and facilitated by Dr David Western and his colleagues of the African conservation centre and attended by local Maasai elders, chairmen of local wildlife and conservation groups and local land owners. Also present was Titus Kaai, a young educated Maasai gentleman with back ground in chemistry and an ambassador of the vultures of Kwenia. I have known Titus since he was a young boy and today meeting was huge step towards achieving his dream of getting the area conserved. Titus and his family live at the base of the cliffs and for the last five years, they have watched helplessly as truck loads of vehicles blaze towards the seasonal lake at the base of the vulture cliffs and ferry piles of cut trees, logs and deadwood to sell to a rapidly growing human population in Nairobi’s suburb. “The land is fast getting degraded” he told me sometimes last year when Kenya experienced one of its worst droughts and his family lost a lot of livestock. “Soon even the vultures will go” he said despondently. “Don’t give up Titus,” I would tell him. And today’s meeting gave him that opportunity to express his feelings.

The mood at the meeting was cordial and everybody I spoke to expressed delight and jubilation at the fact that there were steps being taken to develop a conservation easement area that will pave the way for future conservation efforts and community based eco-tourism prospects a step that will certainly benefit the local community. Titus especially was all smiles.

It was a hot day and for me the highlight was meeting with Dr Rick Potts of the Smithsonian institution and listening to his impassionate talk about the fossil record and evolution of the area. Dr Rick Potts and his colleagues have been conducting research in this area for the last 26 years. The road to the site was dusty and we left in a colony of three vehicles. As we drove across the dry lakebed, I felt a sense of relief that there was now a consortium of individuals and organizations that really believed in this cause. The Kwenia area is truly one of the most scenic landscapes in Africa. We approached our campsite and everyone looked at the impressive over-empowering cliffs. I pointed out to the Ruppells vultures circling above us, an Egyptian vulture also flew above us while a pair of lanner falcons gave us an exceptional show in speed, agility and grace. My friend Gordon brown from Zimbabwe accompanied me to Kwenia and was given the task of taking photos. He was also in complete awe of the area.

John Kamanga led the meeting and explained to the Maasai elders what the next steps would be. There will be numerous challenges since some of the area is trust land whilst other parts are privately owned. We all agreed that we would first need to expose the local Maasai elders to areas where successful conservancies and eco-tourism ventures were ongoing. This would include places such as Shompole and Olkiramatian. Understanding the benefits accrued from conservation practices via ecotourism would help motivate the Maasai elders to engage in similar practices back at Kwenia and Olorgesailie. Secondly, it was critical that we help develop local capacity especially game scouts and rangers who would then be based at each of the entrances to Kwenia and other ranches to curb the horrendous felling and destruction of the trees. And finally, we agreed that we should hold another stakeholders meeting where all the Maasai land owners living in the proposed conservation easement area give a firm commitment towards achieving conservation of the area. This would be the most challenging task. My role via the peregrine fund would be to help develop local capacity and continue to provide the scientific knowledge, with respect to the avifauna (particularly raptors) that would help towards the development of a conservation and management plan, critical in ensuring that Kwenia and the greater Olorgesailie region be conserved and safeguarded for future generations. While we may have made history in this first meeting, the challenges are enormous and the path long, but with the backing of credible organizations that are determined to see Kwenia conserved, we shall certainly overcome.

Posted By Rahab Wandia

PLACES TO VISIT THIS DECEMBER IN THE SOUTH RIFT

2010-12-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

In slightly over two hours drive you will find yourself in a serene wilderness enjoying wildlife and bird viewing. You will also have an opportunity to walk with baboons, Come enjoy the various activities from wildlife and bird viewing on Lake Magadi and Lake Natron, to walking with baboons, tracking night predators with our researchers or exploring the hidden ancient caldera caves of Mt. Suswa which houses unique bat species only found in this area. Drive through Lake Magadi past the scenic Shompole hill to Lake Natron, the breeding spot of the famous flamingos. The list of activities is endless but the experience is memorable. Whilst you appreciate the beauty and diversity of this region as a visitor, you will be benefiting the local community and encouraging conservation of the wildlife and forests.
Tented Sampu camp is self catering perfect adventure destination, available are 10 spacious ensuite tents with queen size double and single beds positioned for you to enjoy the panoramic views overlooking the surrounding acacia woodlands and distant peaks of Shompole hill. While at Sampu camp you get to enjoy guided nature walks, day & night game drives, bird watching, hiking and swimming, bush breakfast and scenic safaris.

Loisiijo lodge is perfect for a weekend getaway for situated between Amboseli and Maasai Mara national parks. It is hidden beneath ancient tamarind trees on the fig shaded banks of the Ewaso Ngiro in Shompole group ranch. Four airy cottages can accommodate ten guests at any time ensuring personal attention and privacy. A spacious dining area and fully equipped kitchen are available for your use. While at Loisiijo lodge you can accompany researchers to their field trip, enjoy game drives in the Shompole conservation area, bird watching, nature walks with local Maasai and cultural tourism.

Visit the Laleenok resource centre and spend time with the researchers as they explore the strong links between traditional knowledge, science and conservation – an interface between scientists and the community.

Walk with a troop of habituated baboons - While down at the south rift get to walk with a troop of habituated baboons together with researchers and guests and get to know the familiar aspects of the behavior of baboons that is similar to humans.

Shompole group ranch has fantastic scenery and a well managed conservancy which is home to several species f wildlife. While visiting Shompole you can spend a night at Oloika guest house and support a Maasai women’s self – empowerment initiative.

To book either of these places, send an email to; admin-soralo@acc.or.ke. Or call 0728-249301
You can also visit our office at the African conservation centre in Karen opposite hill crest preparatory school, fair acres road.

November High lights

2010-11-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Quivira coalitions 9th annual conference
November 10-12, Albuquerque, NM

“The carbon ranch: using food and stewardship to build soil and fight climate change”

Climate change is the most pressing issue confronting humanity. It is also a tremendous opportunity. Right now the only possibility of large scale removal of green house gases from the atmosphere is through plant photosynthesis and other land based carbon sequestration activities. Strategies include: enriching soil carbon, farming with perennials, employing climate-friendly livestock practices, conserving natural habitat, restoring degraded watersheds and rangelands, and producing local food. Over the past decade, many of these strategies have been demonstrated to be both practical and profitable. A carbon ranch bundles them into an economic whole with the aim of creating climate-friendly landscapes that are both healthy ecologically and the source of healthy food. In this conference we will explore this exciting new frontier and learn from carbon pioneers from around the world.

The carbon ranch model combines ecological and economic goals:

1. Progressive cattle management, over the past twenty years, a suite of innovative management methods have been developed worldwide that employ livestock as conservation agents, including noxious weed eradication, “herd effect” planned grazing strategies and low-stress livestock handling (collectively we call it” the new ranch”). Increased grass cover which leads to increased carbon sequestration.
2. Local Grassfed beef, animals raised on grass, processed nearby and consumed in a local community, have a small carbon footprint compared to commodity livestock production (there is some debate in the literature about the trade-off of “food miles” and increased methane production that results when cows eat grass). Grassfed beef is also viewed as healthier than feedlot beef (corn-based) by many researchers and members of the public.
3. Conservation practices that improve ecosystem function: much of the arid west exists in a degraded ecological condition. In recent years, a suite of restoration methodologies have been developed that improve ecosystem function, including; the riparian restoration strategies pioneered by bill zeedyk, water harvesting from improved rural roads and upland erosion mitigation. These (non-cattle) conservation practices improve land health and thus contribute to carbon sequestration.

The 9th annual conference aims to discuss and formulates ways in which “the carbon ranch” reduces its carbon footprint, enriches its soil, maintains a healthy carbon cycle, conserves natural habitat, restores degraded watersheds and provides climate-friendly co-benefits including Grassfed meat.

SORALO will be represented by john Kamanga in the conference and will make a presentation on “Carbon and Conservation for Pastoral Communities” For more information please see the abstract below.

Carbon and Conservation for Pastoral Communities

Abstract

John Kamanga, Lucy Waruingi, Deepali Gohil, Jeffrey Worden

The picturesque Savanna grasslands, commonly referred to as rangelands cover 65% of Kenya’s land surface, account for 60% of the country’s livestock production and 80% of its tourism revenues. It is also where widespread poverty occurs and is the most neglected region in national development schemes, thereby leading to the severe degradation of rangelands due to deforestation, unsustainable livestock management and poor agricultural practices, loss of productivity and resilience of the ecosystem and an increased vulnerability to drought and climate change.

The Southern Rift Valley region of Kenya, lying between Amboseli National Park to the East and Maasai Mara National Reserve to the West, ranks highly amongst Africa’s biodiversity hotspots. Stretching from the arid flats of Lake Natron to the forests of the Nguruman escarpment, it supports one of Africa’s richest concentrations of mammals and birds and is home to Maasai pastoralists whose traditional practices sustain a productive livestock economy and by extension biodiversity.

The South Rift Land Owners Association (SORALO) in collaboration with the African Conservation Centre (ACC) and other partners brings together communities to collectively manage their lands, and help restore the ecosystem services of the open rangelands in a sustainable manner through the use of natural resources and biodiversity conservation. The goal of ACC’s Carbon, Climate and Community program is to adapt to and mitigate against the effects of climate change by securing a sustainable future for pastoral communities and biodiversity in the rangelands of East Africa through the establishment of grass banks and conservation areas, grazing management schemes, improving cattle breeds, alternative livelihood development and payments for ecosystem services in particular for carbon storage and watershed management. Payments for Ecosystem Services, in particular carbon credits from REDD+ projects, plays a key role for the continuity and preservation of this pristinely conserved area that holds a vast amount of carbon stock and biodiversity. The resultant effect is the conservation of large landscapes, rich in biodiversity, holding vast stocks of carbon and the preservation of indigenous people and their practices.

OTHER EVENTS
The dutch officials will also be visiting the south rift this month pass by the almost ready resource centre.

The cattleman project is doing well and during the last month we have been blessed with more calves, 21 Cows were incalf and so far we have five calves one female and four male calves.

Roseanne Hansen South Rift Visit

2010-10-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

Roseanne and her husband Jonathan made a visit to the Olkiramatian and Shompole conservancies to meet the community scouts and donated some field equipment for the scouts work. She was accompanied to the scout’s base by the Soralo coordinator Mr. John Kamanga who later handed her over to the conservation manager a Mr.Lenaimado.
Mr.Lenaimado then conducted a Guard of Honor mounted by the scouts from the 2 conservancies in respect of the visiting donors. Roseanne was requested to inspect the Guard of Honor. After the inspection, the scouts were allowed to sit under a shade and introduced to Roseanne and Jonathan.

The two donors also introduced themselves to the scouts and informed them of their interest to support the South Rift scouts programme. The conservation manager briefed the two donors how the scouts system started and what their work is and how the scouts operate. He went on ahead informing the donors that the main work of the community scouts are,
• To carry out Anti poaching patrols in the conservancies
• Monitor wildlife on daily bases especially the endangered species e.g. elephants, lion, cheetah, leopard to mention few.
• Environmental protection
• Mitigate human wildlife conflict cases and create awareness in the general South Rift.
He also went ahead to brief the donors on the challenges facing the scouts while implementing this programme citing examples such as,
• Lack of field equipment like patrol car, radio equipment, uniforms, rations, GPS, cameras to document field reports etc
• Capacity-Training, out of all the 36 Soralo scouts, only 16 have attended formal training at KWS Manyani Training for 3 months. The remaining lot also needs to undergo the same to enable them handle the challenges of conservation in their area of jurisdiction and country at large.
• Human wildlife conflicts-Mitigation measures are required and therefore have to work hand in hand with the stakeholders.
• Funding for salaries, the list is endless.
Conserventures.org a U.S. based organization through Roseanne and johathan donated the following equipments,

• 4 Bushnell 10x42 Binoculars
• 6 Garmin Etrex GPS and Batteries
• 5 Camping tents.

Roseanne husband Johathan demonstrated to the scouts how to pitch the tents, the use of the binoculars, the GPS application in the field and general maintenance of the equipment.

Abercrombie & Kent South Rift Visit

2010-09-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

Gloria from Abercrombie and Kent had a good time down in Magadi region with the community and the lions Researchers as they followed collared lions, they also visited Oloika primary school in Magadi and interacted with the pupils. She was accompanied by the Director (ACC) African conservation centre Mrs. Betty Buyu, Antony Kihara of ACC, Lillian Odera, John Kamanga SORALO Coordinator. The team had a memorable experience as they spotted several wild animals during their stay including an Eland that had just been feasted on by the lions.

September highrights

2010-09-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

This is a visitor’s month in the south rift;

BBC

A team from BBC visited the south rift on the 11^th to 12^th of this month gathering information about their film called unnatural histories. They were intrigued to find out how the local people feel about the concept of 'pristine wilderness' and the part that they as Maasai have played in shaping its ecology through time. They interviewed the Chair lady of the Olkiramatian Women Group, Titieyo Meiponyi and John Kamanga the Group Ranch Chairman as well as simply enjoyed the scenery.

Abercrombie & Kent

A team from Abercrombie & Kent will be visiting the south rift this weekend from Friday the 24^th to Sunday the 26^th. During their visit they will meet with the women leaders have a game drive/tracking lions with the researchers. They will also visit the south rift resource centre and have a walk with the baboons.

Roseann Hansen ACC US

Roseann Hansen is in the country and will be meeting with the Soralo community game scouts in the south rift on 2^nd to 4^th of October and make donations of cameras, binoculars, GPSs and other field stuff.

Exchange trip – Amboseli leaders

The Amboseli leaders will be visiting the south rift on an exchange trip on the 1^st to 3^rd of October 2010. They will visit the south rift resource centre and hold discussion with the women group leaders who run the centre. They will also enjoy a game drive and visit the Shompole and Loisiijo lodges. They will hold a meeting at the Oloika guest house with the Shompole leaders.

For more updates and stories about these visits and photos please check out this blog at the end of the month.

Enhancing Communication & Client's Facilities in Suswa

2010-06-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

Mt. Suswa has well renowned lava tunnels (caves). It is considered to be the world’s most complex braided system of lava tubes. The Suswa Caves will be the main tourist attraction in the Mt. Suswa Conservancy. It has a Pre-historic occupation and a historic habitation by Kenyan Mau Mau fighters during the colonial era. It has ecologically important new insect species, rare bat colonies and habitation by carnivores such as leopard. Their ecological impact on the caves has been the source of many studies and scientific papers.

UHF System
Suswa Conservancy was established 3 years ago and is manned by 4 community game scouts, who underwent a 3 months training at KWS Manyani Field Training School. The area is facing wildlife poaching for bush meat, environmental destruction through charcoal burning, prevalence of human/wildlife conflicts challenges among others. The scouts carry out anti poaching patrols, monitoring and protection of endangered wildlife and mitigate human/wildlife conflicts in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Forest Dept, Local administration, African Conservation Centre and any other conservation agency. Suswa is also visited by resident and international visitors who visit the caves and the calderas and do camping in the area.

Soralo has facilitated the installation of a Radio communication system and equipment at Mt. Suswa Conservancy on the 18th of June 2010 at Lkerengeti Base. The VHF Radio network will enhance tourist and wildlife security in the general Mt. Suswa conservancy. The radio network is also linked to kws stations in the area, Nairagie Nkare station which links to their other stations. This communication is intended to link Suswa conservancy with the already established conservancies like Shompole and Olkiramatian.

Eco-Toilets

The new Eco toilets built at the Suswa caldera view point site. Clients will now access sanitary facilities (bathrooms and toilets) that are in good condition. The Suswa caldera view point is scenic for both the outer and inner crater. The latter is a pristine forest composed of cedar trees and other indigenous species.

Mt.Suswa Caves

Maasai Culture

2010-06-22T00:16:00.000-07:00

Among the recommendations of the settlers’ Land Committee that had been formed in 1905 and chaired by Lord Delamere, a well known Kenyan settler in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province, was to group Africans into definite reserves away from European settlers or any lands likely to be suitable for European settlement. The colonial government used the 1908 bill prepared by the protectorate authorities for the settlers’ legislative council, the Land Ordinance Cap. 113 of 1923 to take away large tracks of high potential land from Africans. The bill declared such lands to be public lands under the control and subject to the deposition of the Governor. Such lands were declared white highlands and the Africans were pushed into reserves Herren (1991), Wacker (1996) and Gitau (2006). The restricted white highlands were eventually subdivided into large farms and ranches, occupied by a low-density population composed primarily of white British settlers who mainly practiced extensive market oriented livestock farming.

At independence in 1964, the pastoralists and pastoral areas were only marginally integrated into the mainstream of the Kenyan economy. For instance, pastoral beef production did not find its way into the international market, as was the case with the agrarian producers. However, pressure from international donor agencies, which financially supported the pastoral development and basically developed the ASAL, had a major influence on the formulation of government policies. This resulted in formulation of the group ranch policy modeled along the US ranches and supported by the World Bank financed Kenya Livestock Development Project I (KLDP I). The project was implemented by the Kenyan government objectively to step up commercial off-take from pastoral areas and to secure land tenure in order to make such an increase of production possible. The group ranches, which were to be owned by an identified fixed group of people with a fixed territory was seen as the way to stop the “tragedy-of-the-commons” perceived as happening in African pastoral areas by administrators, planners and donor agencies alike.

The group ranches were to be run under collective arrangement by bona fide members of the group ranches. Under the legal framework as provided in the Group Representatives Act of 1968, the pilot group ranches were established in Kajiado District.
As indicated above, the push for the creation of the group ranches was driven by international organizations without much commitment from those in power in Kenyan government. In Mukogodo, Laikipia North District, for instance, many pastoralists did not know the procedure of electing management committees, often confusing them with political party officials. There was a lot of double registration and family members got registered in different group ranches, no loans were given and no infrastructural development took place.

The 1974 drought exposed further the drawbacks of ambitious government policy on ranch development. Shift of emphasis to dry land agricultural production or rain fed agriculture, culminated in the formation of inter-ministerial department of Arid and Semi-Arid Land Program (ASAL Program), which was officially launched in 1979.

As the government’s attention shifted towards ASAL development, the interest in pastoral production waned under the argument that with the low population density and remoteness, heavy commitments were neither necessary nor possible. The policy concern with pasture in the high or medium potential areas of Kenya, which guided the Kenya Rangeland Ecological Monitoring Unit (KREMU), as opposed to the monitoring of arid and semi-arid rangelands, confirm this shift.
Against this background of neglect of the pastoral area, the clamour for subdivision of the former group ranches into individual holdings can be associated with the neglect of the pastoral area infrastructure development and low extension services to support livestock enterprise. Sadly, this subdivision has been associated with environmental degradation as it was highlighted in several community meetings held during the study period.

Conservation in the South Rift

2010-06-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Starting in 1947, Kenya’s national parks marked a first step towards conserving the country’s richest wildlife lands. Park lands were largely excised from traditional pastoral groups such as the Maasai. No compensation was awarded for the loss of their lands, causing deep resentment. Thirty years later, the first efforts to involve communities in the growing benefits from tourism were undertaken in Amboseli. In 1977, a new wildlife policy modeled on the Amboseli experiment was launched to encourage community-based conservation.

Progress in community-based conservation was halting and the results debatable, given the alien concept, lack of government backing and deep suspicions among communities. The launch of Kenya Wildlife Service’s Parks Beyond Parks Campaign in 1997 boosted community conservation initiatives, leading to Kenya’s first community wildlife sanctuary at Kimana the same year. Spurred by the emergence of ecotourism worldwide, Kenya’s fledging community and private land conservation efforts grew rapidly from the late 1990s onwards.

Community-based conservation has since come of age. Proof of local support is borne out by the many private and community wildlife sanctuaries set aside over the last decade, by the growing number of ecotourist lodges and by the deployment of hundreds of local wildlife scouts. Today, over 40 percent of Kenya’s wildlife is found on private and community lands, more than all parks, including Maasai Mara, combined.

Many weaknesses in community-based conservation remain. Most programs are linked to national parks and heavily dependent on revenue-sharing and park tourists. Enterprise skills are weak, corruption skims off substantial revenues and benefits seldom filter down to the household level. For wildlife to survive beyond fragmented park populations, conservation must win support of the wildlife-rich communities in the lands beyond parks supporting two thirds of Kenya’s wildlife. Here, communities must receive tangible benefits from conservation and play a leading role.

The new South Rift tourism destination, launched by SORALO, offers a unique chance for pastoral communities to lead in conserving one of Africa’s richest vertebrate locations to the benefit of its members. Research can give SORALO the information on wildlife and land potential it needs to plan and manage the South Rift on a profitable and sustainable footing. Yet, despite its relevance to conservation and development, research in East Africa has been done, packaged and delivered by scientists, with little community involvement. Lack of involvement has blind-sides communities on the importance of research to conservation and development and side-lined them in decision-making.

Creating community-based research is as challenging as the creation of community-based conservation, perhaps more so. It will take an equally radical shift in the focus of action and decision from the exclusion to inclusion of communities. Shifting the focus of action and decision in research calls for grass roots appreciation of science and training in skills to collect, interpret, and use information. Leveling the playing field in information access for local communities involves drawing on their own time-tested traditional knowledge and providing access to the worldwide web. Only by accessing information locally and globally will local communities be in a position to test and apply knowledge to their own challenges.

Emergence of Community based Research in the South Rift

Research in the South Rift began in 2000, when ACC set up surveys of wildlife, livestock, and human activity to monitor the success of the Shompole and Olkiramatian Wildlife Sanctuaries. The studies showed a sharp increase in wildebeest, zebra, lion and other wildlife following the creation of the sanctuaries. A new ACC project was set up to encourage and track the inward migration of elephants. The numbers have since risen from a few occasional sightings to herds seasonally exceeding 150 elephants. Community scouts were then hired, trained and deployed to protect the growing wildlife numbers, to address human-wildlife conflicts and to collect information on animal sightings. The success of Shompole and Olkiramatian soon attracted scientists interested in community-based conservation and in the coexistence of people and wildlife outside national parks.

By 2006, research interest in the South Rift, the prospects of a community income from research to compliment ecotourism, and the need for information to guide conservation and development, saw a small permanent campsite established on the south of the Uaso Nyiro Bridge. The site, and the strong link between research community interests, caught the interest of biological expeditions such as Earth Watch and zoo and university groups such as Earth Expeditions.

Activities at the resource centre have grown rapidly in 2008. New ideas for the centre are emerging out of the growing links between researchers and community. So, for example, to complement the work of the wildlife scouts, ACC has trained and deployed seven Community Resource Assessors. The CRAs were selected from local communities and have taken on work ordinarily done by researchers, including ecological monitoring, livelihood surveys and land use assessment. The assessors will collect, collate and analyze data relevant to conservation and development.

Working with resident and visiting scientists and ACC, the centre will develop new tools such as participatory GIS and 3-D landscapes for mapping information and land use planning. In yet another development emerging from the centre, an Olkiramatian member has habituated a nearby troop and conducting “Walking with Baboons” tips for visitors. Other activities such as “Walking with Cattle,” “Traditional Knowledge” walks and evening talks for visitors are planned.

The development of a community resource centre on Olkiramatian has purposely followed an evolutionary approach to exploring and developing research for conservation, ecotourism and development. The step-by-step approach draws communities into research, rather than delivers research to them from scientists. The goal of community-based research is to foster an appreciation of research, a demand for information and the skills and institutions needed to collect and evaluate data reliably. An important starting point was the collection of existing knowledge of the area, its wildlife, people, resources and time-tested production and survival strategies of pastoral societies. This helped build interest and confidence and emphasize the importance of sharing and testing knowledge.

The concept of community-based research to compliment community-based conservation won the support of SORALO at a meeting of 40 representatives held at Magadi on March mmmm. SORALO adopted the concept and gave the go-ahead for Olkiramatian and ACC to draw up an outline proposal for the resource centre, design a communal meeting hall, raise the funds for its construction and submit the final proposal to SORALO when complete. The plans will include setting up communication facilities at the centre to connect to internet and the worldwide web.

SORALO Cattlemen

2010-06-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

In the Southern Rift of Kenya pastoralist land is under communal land tenure in the form of Group Ranches. Each Group Ranch has a committee and everyone who is based in the area is a member. Group Ranch boundaries are defined but not fenced and traditionally there is a good deal of collaboration between neighboring Group Ranches, particularly with regard to grazing. Despite this, in the past there was no joint management and planning, which transcended these boundaries and looked to the future of the area as a whole.

Livestock is a key asset in the arid and semi-arid areas of the South Rift region of Kenya. This forms quite a big part of the meat industry suppliers and is estimated to be 80% of the producers. The livelihoods of pastoralists are directly linked to their animals, and thus to the environment in which they live in.

Pastoral communities should capitalize on its livestock wealth by taking advantage of both the opening of KMC and the new markets in Asia, particularly in the affluent and nearby Middle East. This could be key to improving the livelihoods of the pastoral communities by improving the quality of livestock that will compete with other livestock producing areas.

Project Objective

To improve livestock productivity through better breeding and husbandry techniques designed to increase marketable beef outputs without prejudicing traditional efficient drought resilience strategies.

Expected Outputs

o Improved livestock breeds across the South Rift
o Better market outlets and competitive production
o Creation of more grass banks and rangelands rehabilitation

Project Location

The current project location is Iluanat Centre in the Mailwa Group ranch in Kajiado District, some 15km from Namanga town.

Project Programs

o Breeding Stock: This will involve the development of a centre that will produce bulls to be sold to the community at subsidized prices especially targeting large stock farmers who can afford to purchase the bulls and who will not benefit from a pull system due to the size of their herds.

o Bull Camps: For the livestock farmers who are not large stock farmers and have 10 animals or less - which makes up 90% of these communities - a bull camp will be established initially in 5 sites targeting 100 animals each (500 animals) per breeding season. Breeding happens twice a year therefore this program will target 1000 animals per year. Ten breeding bulls will be purchased so that each camp will have two bulls at any one breeding season.

o Livestock Health Program: As farmers improve their herds it will be important to train them in basic livestock management techniques so that they do not lose their stock due to poor disease control and other management practices.

Community Input

The Mailwa community set aside 2 acres of land where the livestock holding ground is located and individual farmers volunteered 600 acres for grazing of the animals for the three years of this first phase of the project. The livestock officer in the area developed a plan for the site and continues to give technical advice. The area was assessed for the breeding program and was found to be viable as the area is close to a community bore hole, an old cattle dip that has been rehabilitated and the grass in the area is of high quality.

Breed Preference

There are two breeds that are tolerant to the hash climatic conditions of the arid and semi- arid areas apart from the Maasai Zebu i.e. the Boran and the Sahiwal cattle. The Sahiwal cattle are both beef and dairy producers unlike the Boran, which is only a beef producer. The communities had a high preference for the Sahiwal breed for this main reason. It is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and noted for its high resistance to parasites, both internal and external. Cows average 2270 kg of milk during lactation while suckling a calf and much higher milk yields have been recorded. Their color can range from reddish brown through to the more predominant red, with varying amounts of white on the neck, and the underline. In bulls the color darkens towards the extremities, such as the head, legs and tails.

Project sustainability

The breeding stock is estimated to produce 60 liters of milk per breeding season, which will be sold to milk processors and the sale of bulls and old stock will enhance project sustainability.

Eco-Tourism

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The South Rift offers a unique opportunity that combines wildlife safaris with eco-tourism through various facilities being developed in the region by the Maasai group ranches. SORALO intends to facilitate a development agenda, focused on tourism, which will address the threats related to maintaining a wildlife habitat to ensure that the integrity of the ecosystem remains intact, for future generations.

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Proposed Education Programs for the South Rift

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Given the current environmental challenges facing arid and semi arid areas such as: environmental degradation, climate change, land use changes; children need to be informed sufficiently since they are the future leaders and beneficiaries of their environment.

Proposed Environmental School Activities

o    Formation of environmental clubs
o    Inter school competitions on environmental issues
o    Water and energy preservation and harnessing
o    Use of renewable and green energy
o    Recycling of waste products to reduce pollution and provide an alternative source of energy
o    Environmental re-greening and rangelands rehabilitation program

Information Sharing

Access to computers for pastoralist children is a major challenge. Their counterparts, who sit for the same exams, have a competitive edge because they start using computers in class one. Pastoralist children have to look for computer courses after their high school education is complete which can be expensive for parents and delays their entry into the workforce.   The Resource Centre, being the hub of research in the area, will provide training and learning materials to encourage children to visit the centre and interact with researchers and community members. The centre hopes to gain access to computers, a projector screen, and video equipment, and also improve upon their solar power system to enhance this information-sharing atmosphere.

Supplementary Feeding Program

The last drought caused a lot of schools in the region to close and many children were unable to attend classes due to lack of food both at home and in schools. SORALO would like to establish a dairy goat program for schools to provide milk that could be partly used by the schools, but could also be sold to purchase cereals to feed the children. This program could also be used as a model to look at the quality of the products produced by a single animal rather than keeping too many animals that have less value in terms of production.