Kenya

• Community-led conservation - the conservancy in Naboisho has not only achieved conservation goals but has also improved the livelihoods of 700 families who have pooled their land together to form the conservancy.
• Heritage preservation - by incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into the conservation and management of the land in Naboisho, the Maasai have managed to strike a balance between conservation and the preservation of their way of life.
• Land tenure security - the provision of 25-year-long leases for individual landowners within the conservancy in Naboisho showcases a long-term commitment to both conservation and community development which provides security for landholders.
• Education and empowerment - the support provided for education through the school for youth, such as bursaries for 2,400 students secures a brighter future for the community and also ensures that traditional knowledge and conservation practices are passed down to the next generation.
• Economic empowerment - the employment of 500 people, with 80% of them being from the local community, showcases the economic empowerment that can result from community-led conservation as in Naboisho.
• Balancing livestock and wildlife - the allocation of 70% of the land in the conservancy for grazing demonstrates a successful balance between wildlife conservation and traditional livestock practices. This approach mitigates conflicts and ensures the sustainability of both wildlife and livestock in the region.
• Predator compensation - the provision of compensation for livestock losses due to predators is a practical solution to conflicts between wildlife conservation and the economic interests of the Maasai community, providing a means of addressing these issues without resorting to violence against wildlife.
• Strategies, such as litigation, advocacy, and mass action, initiated mainly by young students as land defenders related to internal land conflicts in the Maji Moto community and leading to a long and challenging struggle for justice that finally had successful outcomes.

The Naboisho Conservancy showcases a successful model of community-led conservation. Over 700 Maasai landowners have come together to collectively manage the conservancy, pooling their land parcels under common land use plans.

Over time, they managed to build a more resilient community out of the several income-generating activities linked to the conservancy management plan.

This is Dorine Kumum, a guide at @Naboishoconservancy. Most of the guides have graduated from the Koiyaki Guiding School where local Maasai get access to education in guiding and conservation.

The school offers 18-months training courses for students to prepare for the Kenyan National Guide Certificate Exam. Since it opened in 2005, more than 170 students have graduated, a considerable proportion of whom have been women. Each class has approximately 30 students, of which at least 1/3 are women: an important precedent for gender equality in higher education.

• Those who started these struggles are now getting old and called strongly for the younger generation to step up and take it forward. The disconnection of younger community members from land struggles is a global issue for active and creative engagement.
• The community had high expectations that their visitors would be able to help and ensure they finally received justice, and the visit provided a renewed sense of hope, as well as of being visible and recognised.
• The impact of the climate crisis was visible and very clear to the community itself, with rising waters in the lake displacing community members to bare and steep land.
• The cultural and religious importance of resources is critical to understanding the Endorois. “Sukta” means “sacred space” and has enormous significance to the community. This cultural attachment has contributed to the spring's preservation over the years.
• While many more technical solutions could be found to maximise the benefits of the spring, it is critical to be led by the community’s priorities and the limited resources available to take small, achievable steps.
• By fostering a sense of ownership and encouraging community participation, the participatory project around the spring has ensured sustainability.
• There is a need to work together to identify how to move from theory - in the Lake Bogoria case, from a Court Judgement and international frameworks - to action.
• Solidarity with other indigenous communities facing similar struggles is needed.

We spoke with Irene Mukalo from Resource Conflict Institute about the Sukta Community Water Spring project, a perfect example of community-led resource management.

💧The Sukta Spring has played a historically crucial role in ensuring water availability during dry periods while also holding cultural and religious importance for the local community. It currently provides water to 2,100 households and over 15,000 heads of cattle.

We spoke with Christine Kandie, Executive Director of Endorois Women Empowerment Network, empowering women and people with disability in the community.

The Ogiek of Mau consist of around 40,000 members and inhabit the Mau Forest which extends across different counties. For hundreds of years they have relied on the forest for their livelihood, their food, their medicine.

In May 2017 the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights recognized Ogiek people's property rights and the relevance of their cultural heritage. This ruling emphasised the role of Indigenous Peoples in conservation and found the Kenyan government guilty of violating Ogiek's territorial rights entitling the Ogiek to restitution and compensation.

Despite winning their case, many Ogiek remain without access to the forest. Younger Ogiek for example have never lived there and have adapted to a different way of life.

• The African Court ruling confirming Indigenous Peoples’ rights of the Ogiek is a significant milestone but it needs to be actively implemented.
• The successful collaboration between the Kenya Forest Service and Ogiek communities shows the potential of breaking down barriers for productive partnerships.
• The role of youth and women in Ogiek's reforestation initiative highlights the significance of inter-generational skill transfer and the key role that each plays in sustainable forest management.
• It is important to recognize the value of Ogiek’s tree growing system which goes beyond initial planting. It shows their commitment to the long-term health of the Ogiek forest.
• Agroforestry, including bee-keeping, provides alternative livelihoods complementary to wild species. Promotion and funding of agroecology practices are crucial for ensuring food security, and continued community empowerment is essential for sustained forest protection.
• Challenges from “non-Ogiek” settlements in the forest require sensitivity to resolve potential conflicts promptly.
• The forest is not just a “resource”, it is Ogiek’s home, life, culture, and identity. Ogiek are hunters and gatherers. They know their forest better than anyone. Deforestation for agriculture only happens when other means of livelihood no longer are available
• Recognizing and addressing issues related to public land use can reduce conflicts and land tenure insecurity.
• Access to carbon credits – could possibly be a source of income for these communities, if their rights are respected and the conditions are fair and just