The recent rise in human-wildlife conflicts,coupled with the existing wildlife conservation challenges mainly POACHING has threatened to drive wildlife animals into extinction. wildlife habitats are gradually but first reducing,human population and settlements have surged up and the lack of conservation awareness has increased conflicts between human and wildlife,as a result livestock are killed,
crops destroyed and human life is lost in the process of wildlife searching for food. This has caused retaliation from the local communities living around protected ares(parks and reserves) to retaliate.I must congratulate Kenya wildlife service and wildlife lovers for their efforts for their contribution through online groups and organizations. But you agree with me much has to be done if we have to solve all these. In my own way of contribution,i feel serious conservation awareness needs to be carried out,BUT practically on the ground,we need to sit down to the concern communities,listen to them,sensitize them,draft solutions with them so that we can have full community participation. We are doing a great job online,but these communities rarely uses these social services especially in the remote areas,therefore taking the conservation crusade right to their doorstep and witnessing will not only boost our efforts but will make the local people feel much appreciated. The conservation awareness campaigns will use volunteers mainly from local universities especially those persuing conservation related courses,conservationists,environmentalists,NGOs,Non-profits organizations,all stakeholders,groups and most importantly the local community members. The use of media awareness to sensitize the public on conservation and its importance. this we call for our local media houses to help us realize the success of preserving kenyas heritage.
2. the use of banners to send the message especially in urban centers and towns in in upcountry.
3. the use of films/videos to educate local communities,pupils in primary schools,college students/universities.
3. use of printed t-shirts carrying the messages of anti-poaching,anti-logging,and the need to preserve our national heritage.
4. we also seek to organize regular conferences,workshops,and events competitions both in urban centers and rural areas like tree planting competitions where local people forms groups then the groups compete in planting trees and the best group awarded. this will help in reforestation and ensuring that kenya achieves the 10%percent forest cover.
4.Through Tourism sector to promote awareness campaigns in sensitizing the local community,tourists,tour guides and guides to embrace conservation.tourism industry help on provision of educational materials to the local communities and students/pupils of schools around. the tourism industry can also organize event competitions with CAC where the local communities participate. Work with kws and CAC to rewarding and recognizing the efforts of local community members who does excellent work in fighting poaching by reporting any poaching activities or person involved in this.members who also conserve environment can be rewarded.
5. work with kws and other stakeholders by setting up a volunteer program where students are trained and placed to their rural areas to educate and sensitize the communities on fighting poaching,tackling human wildlife conflicts.
6.work with kws,tourism to solicit for funds to help in developing measures to curb human-wildlife conflicts like solar lighting and predator-proof bomas.
7. work with government agencies and other stakeholders in developing conservation awareness programs in schools.
8. work with Tourism industry and kws to liaise with media so that when tourism advertisements are carried out,strong conservation awareness messages are aired too.
9. work with kws in sensitizing the communities neighboring parks,reserve or conservancies to use organic manure especially in areas like saiwa natioal parks,kingwal park,Lake nakuru national park to help reduce chemicals being carried into the parks during rainy seasons. This campaign intents to take the conservation awareness to these people. For the next six months i will be voluntarily dedicating my time, energy,and skills to make this a success. I intent to undertake the following.
1. To push for compensation policies through practical collection of signatories and use of emails for petitions to push our parliament and government pass these and other important legislation that will boost wildlife management and promote peaceful co-existence between man and wildlife animals.
2.Door to door awareness in all 47 counties targeting schools,colleges and through local community meetings.
3. Push for incentives to the local community members who reports poaching activities or poachers whereabouts. These promote security and community participation as well. making Kenyans participate in conserving their resources.
4. Use videos/films for educating the public on conservation/environmental awareness.
5. Advocate for more land acquisition for the purposes of conservation i. wildlife habitats,corridors and forests.
6.Work with media and associations in schools/,colleges,local communities committees with regular interaction through organizing lectures conferences,where wildlife experts,conservationists,naturalists,environmentalists are invited to educate and exchange ideas.
7. Push through the ministry of education and other stakeholders for introduction of compulsory environmental/conservation courses right from primary schools,secondary schools to tertiary colleges. The campaign kicks off next month and first consideration will be the areas marked as hotspots i humanwildlife conflicts which includes Samburu,Narok areas surrounding maasai mara national reserve,Taita Taveta areas within which Tsavo National parks are located,Mt. kenya areas neighbouring Mt.kenya national park and Aberdares national park,and areas bodering Nairobi National park other areas like Rimoi national game reserve,Mt. Elgon national park, Lake Nakuru National park, Meru, Sibiloi National park will also be targeted as we embark on countrywide conservation awareness. For this to succeed,i am requesting for volunteers. wildlife students,biologists,conservationists,wildlife lovers, local community,environmentalists,tourists,all stakeholders to join me in this noble course. Equipments needed includes, projectors,a computer,films/videos,transport means,public address systems,as well as food and accommodation. Donating materials is the best if you have and funding is also welcomed. The success of this depends on your contributions. kindly support and help the campaign start. Together we can do this for the sake of wildlife,their habitats and the local communities neighbouring these protected areas. you can contact me through:
ROBERT KIPTANUI RONO (Bsc, wildlife management-MOI UNIVERSITY)
P.O BOX,7341,
ELDORET-KENYA. Telephone number: +254 725 333 744,
email address: [email protected]
[email protected]
