The PORINI Welfare Association (PORINI) was founded in Kenya in 2005 by a team of like-minded individuals who have a strong sense of environmental conservation and the need to strengthen local community governance. PORINI's work is steered by the understanding that effective environmental conservation is a function of cultural wisdom and commitment from local communities. This work has been cataly
sed in many ways by the fact that, despite Kenya having some good laws on environmental protection, degradation continues unabated. However, where cultural norms on conservation are upheld, local environments continue to thrive and their integrity sustained. PORINI has been working with various stakeholders including environment, development and human rights organisations, local communities (especially those living adjacent to forests of cultural significance) and government agencies in developing community-led natural resources governance structures. PORINI has also implemented the community ecological governance strategy with communities living near Karima hill in Othaya (Central province); Giitune in Meru (Eastern province); Mtito Ndooa in Kitui (Eastern province), Marafa in Malindi (Coast province), Nkunga Sacred Lake (Mount Kenya region) and Mbututia sacred Lake (Mount Kenya region); and currently rolling out to Kisima Sacred Lake (Samburu- North Rift) and Mfangano Island (Nyanza province). The implementation strategy is also anchored on national and international policy and legal provisions that are progressively recognising the importance of traditional knowledge in environmental conservation and sustained livelihoods of indigenous and local peoples. Porini is currently resonating with bees as the flagbearers for a new resolve for indigenous knowledge systems and environmental conservation. The deep ecological wisdom and a long standing sacred partnership with the bee can help us reconnect and rewild ourselves for both prosperity and posterity. The project is named ZAWADI YA PORINI/GIFT OF NATURE as we engage communities through The African Honey Trail of our Northern Desert Mosaics of Kenya.
