19/03/2026
Restoring Biodiversity in Southern Kenya
This week, we facilitated a peer learning visit for members of Elanga’ata Enterit community to the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust Community Forest Association in Laikipia County.
The purpose of the learning visit is to expose Elang’ata Enterit Group Ranch officials to a functioning community-managed forest governance model and strengthen their understanding of how community institutions can legally manage and protect forest landscapes.
Ngare Ndare represents a well-established example of a community-led forest management institution that has successfully combined conservation, governance, and livelihood benefits.
***
Southern Kenya, spanning approximately 80,000 km² (13.7% of Kenya’s landmass), hosts over 56% of Kenya’s wildlife, including half of its elephant and lion populations. The area forms a vital ecological corridor connecting the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo ecosystems, and is central to Kenya’s biodiversity and pastoral livelihoods. However, rapid land subdivision, encroachment, and unsustainable land-use practices are fragmenting this landscape, threatening both wildlife and community resilience.
With support from the Liz Claiborne Art Otenberg Foundation, we are undertaking a project to enhance the effectiveness of community conservancies in the Loita–Mosiro sub-landscape to restore habitats, maintain wildlife connectivity, and protect endangered species through community-led conservation actions.
Through the project, we will be supporting two conservancies: Oletukat conservancy and Elangata Enterit which is in the Loita forest landscape. The conservancies will be receiving support towards Governance and Institutional Strengthening, Conservation and Biodiversity Management and also Sustainable Livelihoods.
Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association Baringo County Conservancies Association Laikipia Conservancies Association Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association Northern Rangelands Trust North Eastern Conservancies Association - NECA Athikapiti wildlife conservancies association Pwani Ecosystem Conservancies Foundation-PECFO Ngare Ndare Forest Trust Mpoke Charles
