Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy

Kenya

Name: Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy
Country: Kenya
Year of establishment: 2002
Type of organization: Access and benefit sharing agreement, Ecosystem protection, Ecosystem restoration, Protection and sustainable management of wildlife and/or migratory species

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Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy

Kenya

Name: Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy
Country:
Year of establishment:
Type of organization: Access and benefit sharing agreement, Ecosystem protection, Ecosystem restoration, Protection and sustainable management of wildlife and/or migratory species

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Description

Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy (KCWC) lies in an area of 16,000 hectares within the 49,800 ha of Gir Gir Group Ranch in the Waso Ward of Samburu East Sub County. Samburu County has historically shared tourism revenue with Kalama Conservancy as a reward for their contribution to wildlife conservation in areas bordering the National Reserve. The conservancy was established in 1998 and registered as a Community-Based Organization (CBO) with Samburu County Council, and Social Services Department in 2002 to draw increased numbers of wildlife into the area by providing water sources and improved security through conservancy rangers' patrols. The Conservancy was later registered as a not-for-profit company on the 25th of Nov 2013; incorporated as Kalama Community Conservancy Ltd (KCC). With support from St Louis Zoo, much effort was put into community conservation awareness for behavioral change towards the appreciation of wildlife as a gainful resource and respect for nature. The effort also led to the identification of Kalama as a Grevy's Zebra range and wildlife dispersal area from Samburu National Reserve. In engagement with the communities 34 rangers have been employed to date, 5 revenue clerks, 2 water attendants, 1 Nurse, 3 Community Health Workers, 1 dispensary watchman, 1 biogas technician, 3 support staff, and 6 senior staff that have been of great help to the growth of the conservancy. In the investor's lodge establishment, 40 staff 85% are from the local community have been employed. Security and rangeland management remains the pillar for conservation at Kalama and with a well-dedicated team of rangers. The establishment of the Headquarters, the tourism facilities-Saruni-Samburu Lodge, Nasha Campsite, Nakwamor Community Security Rangers’ Outpost, Lentaragwet Rangers Base, Kalama Airstrip Waiting Bay, Kalama Airstrip Women Curio Shade, upgrading of Kalama Airstrip with support from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) that remains one of the best in Northern part of Kenya; purchasing a second brand new Landcruiser truck assigned to security and rangelands dockets and proposed sustainability projects of construction of the KES 400M Kalama Resource Center in Nasha courtesy of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) through the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and Girgir Group Ranch Business Storey Complex in Archer’s Town has enabled Kalama to be a unique community conservancy that can transform livelihood and living standards of the community.

Nature Element: Grasslands and drylands
Type of Action: Access and benefit sharing agreement, Ecosystem protection, Ecosystem restoration, Protection and sustainable management of wildlife and/or migratory species
Sustainable Development Element: Jobs and livelihoods (SDG 1) , Sustainable communities and disaster risk reduction (SDG 11) , Climate action (SDG 13) , Peace and security (SDG 16)

Environmental Impacts

The clearing of invasive species covering over time an area nearly 6,000 ha, has restored habitat with grass germination. The introduction of Cenchrus Ciliaris in 2009, an adaptive and productive grass species from Baringo County in Kenya, has attained self-reseeding. By controlling cattle encroachment, and illegal settlements, and embracing planned grazing, was able to enhance habitat connectivity, by connecting fragmented habitats, hence wildlife populations would move more freely and have a better chance of survival. It also allows for greater genetic diversity and ecosystem stability. Carbon sequestration has thrived with There is increased wildlife presence as a result enhancing game viewing to tourists. From 2022, the Conservancy through partners - Just Dig It (JDI) and Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), implemented semi-circular bunds, which is a new approach in the rangeland restoration toolbox. This has helped reduce surface run-off wasting water, and by holding water in their shallow pits, they fast-track grass germination. After implementing the semicircular bands, grass reseeding is applied. This would happen just before the onset of rain. We have realized denuded land springing back to life. Even with below-average rains, the semicircular bands can work wonders.

Sustainable Development Impacts

Actualmente, 70% de las familias atendidas de 2020-2022, han diversificado los ingresos familiares por la venta de excedentes de sus huertos de traspatio y la transformación de la materia prima en conservas y mermeladas (ODS 2 – Meta 2.3). Las mujeres que participan en los programas de la organización se identifican como agentes clave para su desarrollo, al encontrar en los proyectos productivos una forma de generar ingresos y alimentos para sus familias y comunidades (ODS 5 – Meta 5.a). De igual forma, el trabajo de la organización ha permitido la gestión integral del agua en la microcuenca del Río San Juan Zitácuaro con instituciones gubernamentales, académicas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil a través del trabajo participativo y el acceso a servicios básicos de agua (cisternas captadoras y sistemas de distribución), saneamiento y tratamiento (baños secos y biofiltros) en la vivienda, que ha permitido proveer agua segura y suficiente para ocho comunidades de la cuenca (ODS 6)

RESILIENCE, ADAPTABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

El modelo es sostenible ya que: a) impulsa el desarrollo de actitudes, habilidades y valores en favor de sociedades más justas; b) fortalece las capacidades de los habitantes de la región, logrando que el conocimiento permanezca y se multiplique; c) cuenta con un programa anual de trabajo que permite monitorear y evaluar las actividades, así como el impacto ambiental, social y económico que se tiene en la RBMM; d) el desarrollo de alianzas permite que el modelo perdure y se transmita. En términos financieros, la organización cuenta con las siguientes estrategias para lograr la autosuficiencia: 1) producción y venta de zarzamora orgánica; 2) capacitación en agroecología, ecotecnias, conservación y empresarialidad; 3) venta de productos agroecológicos; 4) renta del Centro de Capacitación y de Demostración; 5) transferencia del Modelo de Desarrollo Integral Sostenible de Alternare a otras partes del mundo (desarrollo de una plataforma de aprendizaje remoto); 6) plataforma Bosque Somos.

REDUCED INEQUALITIES

Alternare promueve la participación comunitaria mediante el esfuerzo colectivo, ya que trabajar con grupos pequeños de campesinos permite construir una “estructura humana sólida” que constituirá los cimientos para alcanzar un desarrollo integral comunitario. Derivado de la experiencia del equipo de Alternare, se estima necesaria la planeación, organización y ejecución de talleres de participación y organización comunitaria desde las mismas comunidades. Esto motiva y facilita que la gente exprese sus inquietudes, problemas e ideas, mediante un proceso de análisis y reflexión que los lleva a la implementación de un plan de actividades acorde con sus necesidades. Por otro lado, el programa Conservación de Bosque y Agua se lleva a cabo a nivel comunitario, por lo que la relación es con las autoridades comunitarias (Comisariado, Mesa Directiva y Asamblea Comunitaria), con quienes se toman las decisiones. Alternare informa a las comunidades sobre la situación del bosque, agua y otros recursos naturales, ya que la Organización está convencida que, entre mejor informadas estén las comunidades, mejores decisiones sobre los recursos naturales y el territorio se tomarán.

GENDER EQUALITY

La estrategia que implementa la organización busca garantizar que las mujeres se identifiquen como agentes clave para lograr cambios económicos, ambientales y sociales. La organización tiene un enfoque de género a través del ejemplo, en el cual las mujeres de la comunidad ven en las instructoras y líderes de la organización una referencia para llevar a cabo acciones para impulsar su propio desarrollo. Actualmente, se tiene una participación del 95% de mujeres en proyectos productivos, ya que son ellas las que resuelven el tema de alimentación en las familias campesinas. Las capacitadas conocen y emplean técnicas de producción agroecológica que conservan los ecosistemas, la diversidad cultural y los conocimientos tradicionales, e identifican su papel fundamental en la agricultura, la alimentación y el mantenimiento de las economías locales.

Scalability

Benchmarking tours by interested groups nationally and regionally, have frequently visited the Conservancy to learn and pick lessons. Community conservancies are becoming the wildlife dispersal areas and buffer zones of protected areas like National Reserves, and National Parks. In Samburu, the Samburu National Reserve is encircled by Nasulu, Westgate, and Kalama conservancies, enhancing its sustainability. The same is the case in Masai Mara, and now plans are underway to implement it in Amboseli National Park. Conservancies have strong governance structures and a good insulation to PAs

Replicability

Communities need to register their land and gain property rights. Unregistered community lands are under the custodianship of the local government (county government), this allows political meddling, and communities have no power to decide upon themselves. Land is the first asset a community can empower itself with, to manage their natural resources with absolute access and rights. Also, land use policies is key to determining the set objectives the available land can be utilized for e.g community settlements, grazing, and sustainable conservation

Disclaimer: The content presented in this Nature-based Solutions Database is submitted directly by Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy and does not reflect the views or positions of the UNDP Equator Initiative. We do not edit or endorse the information provided, nor are we responsible for its accuracy. Our platform serves solely as a space for Indigenous Peoples and Local Community (IPLC) organizations to showcase their work and share their stories in their own words.