Mazingira Conservation Works: Update Oct. 2023

Tara Hetz
Feb 20
3 min read

Updated: Mar 11

Greetings,

I am happy to share an update on the Mazingira Conservation Fund

(MCF)!

This summer (2023), we selected 5 community conservation projects to

support with MCF funds. Most of these projects focus on youth and

women's groups. The projects nurture local capacity building and income

generation with wildlife conservation goals. You can learn about the

progress of all 5 projects below.

We are grateful for everyone's donations and happy to report that we ran

Adventure for Rhinos (AFR) in July of 2023. We had five guests from the

US who biked across the Laikipia plateau, walked with rhinos, summited

Lenana Peak on Mt. Kenya, and met several of the MCF community

projects. As a reminder, Adventure for Rhinos is a fundraising trip

dedicated to supporting MCF

We are running Adventure for Rhinos in 2024 and will continue

fundraising for MCF!!

With the challenges of inflation from the war in Ukraine and the lack of

grain shipments, communities in Kenya are struggling. Now more than

ever, your support for the MCF helps make a real difference for

communities and wildlife in Laikipia.

Asante sana,

Tara Hetz

Executive Director

Updates on the 5 MCF community projects

ILMAMUSI Community Forest Association (CFA)

The Ilmamusi Mukogodo CFA is entrusted with the management of the

Mukogodo Forest Reserve. Their project focuses on strengthening

ecotourism activities by improving campsites, fostering collaboration

among local tourism facilities, and enhancing their online presence. By

attracting more tourists, the project aims to generate economic benefits for the

local community while ensuring the sustainable protection and management

of the forest.

Ontulili Primates Protection (OPP)

The OPP project focuses on protecting primates and biodiversity along the

Ontulili River. By addressing unsustainable human activities, habitat

loss, and human-wildlife conflict, the project aims to restore the riparian land,

benefiting both primates and the local community. Their activities include

sourcing and procuring seeds, training farmers, and conducting tree-planting in

collaboration with local stakeholders

Oramat Lenaboisho Cooperative Society (OLCS)

OLCS’s project is dedicated to empowering women in traditional

Maasai society by focusing on livestock ownership and increasing household

wealth. Through activities such as livestock purchasing, improved

governance and financial literacy, and marketing and sales support, the project

aims to expand the cooperative’s membership and create sustainable

livelihood opportunities for women.

Naatum Women's Group

This group is tackling climate change effects through rangeland restoration activities, tree planting, and vertical kitchen gardening. By enhancing

rangeland management practices, clearing invasive plant species, and

involving local communities in decision- making processes, this project aims to

restore balance to the ecosystem while empowering women to lead

conservation efforts

The Leo Project

This dynamic organization has been at the forefront of building climate resilience among Laikipia County's youth. Through an immersive training session, 22 selected youths were equipped with valuable insights on climate change basics, policy advocacy, and environmental commitment. The impact of this training extends far beyond the session itself, as these young individuals emerge as effective climate advocates in their

communities