case studies undp: kipsaina cranes and wetlands conservation group, kenya

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: KIPSAINA CRANES AND WETLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya

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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Kenya

KIPSAINA CRANE ANDWETLANDS CONSERVATIONGROUP

Empowered live

Resilient nation


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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power of Local Action: Lessons from 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chief: Joseph Corcoran

Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group, and in particular the guida

and inputs o Maurice Wanjala. All photo credits courtesy o Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group. Maps courtesy o C

World Factbook and Wikipedia.

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Stu

Series. New York, NY.
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdf


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PROJECT SUMMARY

This community-based organization has worked since 1990

to conserve wetlands and biodiversity in and around Saiwa

Swamp National Park, home to approximately 25 per cent o

Kenyas vulnerable Grey Crowned Crane population. During

the 1980s eucalyptus cultivation resulted in drainage o the

swamp and damage to habitats.

The catalyst or reversing these trends came rom a leader

o the local Catholic parish, who mobilized community

members to conserve a ve-kilometer stretch o swamp

actively abandoning smallholder plots within the area andvoluntarily planting a range o native tree species, including

acacia varieties, around its border. This has allowed the

wetlands to regenerate, and enabled the maintenance o a

healthy crane population - the most recent count within the

Kipsaina wetlands, in December 2009, ound 35 individuals.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2006

FOUNDED: 1990

LOCATION: Western edge of Great Rift Valley, Kenya

BENEFICIARIES: Kipsaina and other surrounding villages

BIODIVERSITY: Saiwa Swamp National Park

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KIPSAINA CRANE AND WETLANDSCONSERVATION GROUPKenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 5

Biodiversity Impacts 7

Socioeconomic Impacts 7

Policy Impacts 8

Sustainability 9

Replication 9

Partners 9


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Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group began its

work in 1990, and was ocially registered as a community-based

rganization in 1991. The group works in conserving wetlands and

heir biodiversity in and around Saiwa Swamp National Park, Western

Kenya. The swamp is located in the Trans Nzoia plateau lands,

etween Mount Elgon and the Cherangani Hills, along the western

dge o the Great Rit Valley. The many rivers o the region eventually

make their way through the basin to Lake Victoria, and two o these,

aiwa and Kipsaina, orm a riverine orest and swamp area to the

orth o the town o Kitale. Ocially gazetted in 1974, Saiwa Swamp

ow orms Kenyas smallest national park. From 1991 until 2003,

he ocus o Kipsaina Cranes and Wetlands Conservation Group was

n Saiwa; since then, attention has shited to the ve kilometres owamp upstream rom the park, around Kipsaina village itsel.

Protecting Kenyas smallest national park

he group began in response to human pressures on the Saiwa

nd Kipsaina ecosystems. The national park and its wildlie were

hreatened by activities in and around the wetlands including

and-harvesting, wetland drainage, over-grazing, wildlie poisoning

rom the use o articial ertilizers, and illegal harvesting o water

nd rewood rom the protected area. The Kipsaina river area was

ntirely cultivated, reducing the river to a stream, and wildlie had

isappeared rom the wetlands.

Kipsaina Conservation Group was ormed with the objective o

asing the pressure on this ragile ecosystem by making the swamp

community-conserved area. Much o the initial work in persuading

ommunity members to rerain rom cultivation o the wetlands

rea was undertaken by a key gure in the local Catholic parish, who

onvinced Kipsaina residents to conserve the swamp area on the

rounds o its inherent natural value.

The prime objective was to rehabilitate the badly degraded a

in and around the swamp through tree-planting, while o

objectives aimed at compensating communities or the ser

they had typically obtained rom the wetlands area. This inclu

providing alternative, clean sources o water; odder or c

instead o grazing within the wetlands; and income-genera

activities besides cultivation. Kipsaina promoted environment

riendly practices such as sh-arming, agroorestry, bee-kee

poultry and rabbit keeping, and the sale o curios and tour-gu

or ecotourism. Through the adoption o these alternative livelih

activities the group has been able to successully rehabilitate

wetlands and improve local wellbeing.

The chie biodiversity impact has been the return o severa

wildlie species to the wetlands, including the rare Sitatunga ante

and a large population o Grey Crowned Cranes. Much o Kipsa

work has been supported by the International Crane Founda

and the area has been the subject o television documentarie

the BBC and the Arican Wildlie Foundation, among others.

international recognition has made the group a model within K

or community-based approaches to conservation.

Background and Context

The region was affected by thedroughts throughout Southern Kenya i

2008-2009. In Kipsaina, we were ableto construct simple irrigation ditchesthrough the wetlands, which benefitted

local cultivation.

Maurice Wanjala, Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands

Conservation Group


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Key Activities and Innovations

he conservation model employed by Kipsaina has been that o a

ommunity-conserved area, protecting the wetlands area upland

rom Saiwa Swamp National Park. This has involved extensive

ommunity participation, as the wetlands area had previously been

ntirely used or cultivation, grazing, and as a source o water, and

he surrounding orests or rewood and timber. In order to halt this

practice o human encroachment and reverse the environmental

arm done, the Kipsaina Conservation Group has had to change

behaviours and attitudes towards conservation, promote schemes

o preserve the conserved area, and provide realistic alternatives

or the services provided by the Kipsaina ecosystem. The rst part

o this was achieved through the engagement o a local church

ommunity; conservation o the wetlands area was conceived os part o a holistic approach to ownership and stewardship o the

ommunitys land. This has been vital or the initiatives durability

nd sustainability, but has been supplemented by a variety o

nvironmentally-riendly and income-generating activities.

Conservation through tree-planting

Kipsainas main achievement has been its capacity to raise indigenous

nd exotic tree-seedlings on a large scale. Currently they are able

o produce 100,000 seedlings a year at their main tree nursery,

where they grow over twenty species o tree. This has involved local

takeholders such as schools, womens groups, churches and youth

roups. The indigenous seedlings are given to communities orgroorestry purposes and to create an upland buer zone around

he wetlands, while the exotic varieties are sold to generate revenues

o cover operational costs. Planting along the edge o the wetlands

rea and in the upland area has helped to prevent soil erosion and

as provided habitats or returning wildlie.

en new sites or tree nurseries are being planned or the

urrounding ten districts to scale up the environmental benets

rom the tree-planting scheme, using Kipsainas expertise. The

reas will be identied according to the criteria o the presence

o, or the potential or, wildlie habitats. The group plans to

up to one million seedlings in total: 100,000 at each planned

site. Organised groups close to the site, such as church, schoo

womens groups or example, will be engaged to lead the proj

So ar, three sites have been identied, in Trans-Nzoia, Bungoma

Kakamega Forest.

Investments in wellbeing and raising awareness

In Saiwa Swamp National Park and Kipsaina, human pressure o

wetlands ecosystem has been reduced through a variety o meas

A key intervention or this was unding rom the Disney World

Conservation Fund through the International Crane Foundatio2003. One innovation was providing tree seedlings ree o ch

to local armers, encouraging them to rerain rom harvesting

around the wetlands or uel. Water springs have been bored

water catchment areas preserved in the villages surrounding

national park, reducing communities need to take water rom

conservation area.

Extensive sensitization o the communities through trai

workshops and seminars was also vital in persuading local ar

not to graze their herds on the parks land. To support this, Kips

initiated the planting o elephant grass along the riverb

saeguarding against soil erosion and providing odder or lives

to compensate or the loss o grazing areas within the swamp.

The targeted beneciaries o Kipsainas work have been

surrounding communities in both upper and lower Saiwa

Kipsaina, many o whom have been encouraged in underta

alternative livelihood activities. Among these, Kipsaina espec

targets both youth and women. Training has been given at Kipsa

demo site in bee-keeping, sh-arming, poultry and rabbit-rea

and organic arming, among other livelihood activities.


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66

his has been supplemented by environmental education with local

outh. Initially, sixteen schools ten primary and six secondary

chools were given tree nurseries and beehives, engaging a swathe

local youth in conservation eorts. These schools also participate

n art and drama competitions with conservation themes. Awareness

the importance o wetland conservation has also been spread to

he broader community through music and drama, especially on

World Environment Days and public holidays.

he development o Kipsaina wetlands or ecotourism activities is

ngoing, but the potential or generating revenues through this

venue is very real. Formerly, visitors to Saiwa Swamp National park

ad driven past Kipsaina, creating a market or the sale o crats

made rom wetland resources and stimulating income genera

or community members. Now, however, a newly-built road

changed the access route to the national park. Nonetheless, Kips

has explored the possibility o erecting observation towers to

the wildlie within the wetlands. The area oers the chance o se

the rare, semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope, as well as one o Ken

largest populations o Grey Crowned Cranes.

Finally, Kipsaina has also participated in joint research projecbiodiversity conservation, undertaken along with students

experts rom institutes such as Moi University, Kenyatta Unive

and Nairobi University rom Kenya, and Makerere University

Uganda.

I would urge the entire Kenyan and even international policy-making community to contribu

to environmental conservation. For if we fail to do that, our future is doomed. Man was create

last, and was handed over our Mother Earth to nurse, not to destroy.

Maurice Wanjala, Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group

aiwa Swamp, 1990 Saiwa Swamp, 2006


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7

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

The tree nursery at Kipsainas demonstration site, situated adjacent

o the wetlands, contains around teen indigenous and ve exotic

pecies o tree seedlings. These include: Prunus Aricana, Cordia

Aricana, Melia species, Albizia Gummira, Sizygium species, acacia

pecies, Bischovia, Olea species (Olea Africana and Olea Welwich),

Graveria, Spathodea Nilotica, Markhamia Lutea, cedar, palm (Phonex

pecies), Melidia Dura, Vitex Kinyensis, Croton Megalcarpus, Maesopis

Eminii, ash, Eucalyptus Grandis, cypress, and Caleantra species.

The prolieration o these various and diverse species around the

wetlands has been Kipsainas most signicant environmental impact,

greatly improving local biological diversity and helping to conserveeveral important native species.

The species are chosen or being multi-ecological that is, they can

urvive in many dierent geographical areas, and will regenerate.

They are thereore suitable or developing buer zones around the

wetlands. Many o the tree species have medicinal uses, and can be

used or timber and charcoal, while some are ast-growing. Some

o these exotic species, such as eucalyptus and cypress, are sold to

ocal armers at aordable prices or agroorestry, on the condition

hat they are not planted around the wetlands area. Other varieties

an be used or silk-worm rearing, to provide odder or animals, or

will be used or housing beehives. In addition, acacia trees provide

natural roosting spots or Grey Crowned Cranes.

aiwa Swamp National Park and the Kipsaina wetlands provide a

natural habitat or approximately 25% o Kenyas Grey Crowned

Crane population. The most recent count within Kipsaina wetlands,

n December 2009, ound 35 cranes. Other bird species include

he Great Blue and Grey Turaco, and Ibis; at least 78 species in

otal have been spotted within the conserved area. There are also

wenty-two Sitatunga antelopes, and a small amily group o six

o the endangered De Brazzas monkeys, as well as Vervet and

Colubus monkeys. The area is also home to species such as the water

mongoose, shy otter, and giant snakes including black and g

mambas and orest cobras. Endemic plant species include T

Sedge grass and water lilies.

These numbers compare to no wildlie and ew bird species pri

2003, when the area was drained or cultivation. These species

returned solely as a result o the work o Kipsainas members

high level o plant and wildlie diversity in and around the smal

o wetlands is indicative o the personal sacrices and long-

planning o this local initiative. Monitoring o this biodivers

conducted by local schoolchildren and teachers, who are involv

ongoing species sightings. Spot-counting, such as crane count

conducted twice annually using community volunteers.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

The socioeconomic impacts o Kipsainas work have been limite

the eects o the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya, which

particularly intense in the Rit Valley area. Nonetheless, at va

times Kipsaina has been able to promote income-gener

activities in target constituencies which have brought tan

social and economic benets to indigenous community mem

These included the sale o handicrats and curios to tourists

environmentally-riendly businesses.

In 2003, the International Crane Foundation conducted a prevaluation o the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund g

along with a government team, ocusing primarily on the

arming projects initiated by the group. Kipsaina was investiga

monoculture sh arming, growing only male sh within a p

which had yielded heavier specimens. At the time, a single sh

selling or KSh250, and each pond contained up to one thou

sh. The armers could expect to generate 250,000 Kenyan shil

rom the total harvest, or approximately USD 200. This, and o

livelihood activities such as bee-keeping and poultry-arming

helped to lessen communities reliance on the wetlands area.


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n one example, Kipsaina worked with Bwayi Womens Group by

donating sh or sh-arming, and tree seedlings or planting.

Unortunately these projects collapsed ollowing 2007. Kipsainas

own demonstration site and nursery were aected when the groups

members let the area, but have recovered partially since then.

Kipsainas continued commitment to encouraging conservation

hrough environmentally-riendly livelihoods ensures that

ocioeconomic benets will accrue to local communities again; this

has been a eature o its success and its continuing sustainability.

POLICY IMPACTS

Kipsaina has been heavily involved in advocating or policy

development with various government bodies. Working with the

National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the Ministry

o Agriculture, and other government departments at various

ocal, district and national levels has given the group considerable

nfuence in policies concerning communities and the environment.

Kipsaina has hosted district environmental meetings, and was

granted land by the Ministry o Agriculture or its tree nursery.

The director o Kipsaina is a member o NEMA, which has

Kipsaina as a role model or replication in community conserva

areas in Kenya. Involvement in this national body also le

participation in discussions over reconciling conficting governm

legislation. For instance, agricultural, water and land rights law

specied diering interpretations o private and common prop

coordinating legislation to clariy these dierent interpreta

was eventually passed ater combined lobbying eorts in w

Kipsaina played a leading role. Recently, Kipsaina has also lobor change in wildlie policy, arguing or compensation o arme

destruction o crops by wildlie.

Oten, Kipsainas community members have elt that they

lacked the appropriate tools and training or advocacy, how

This was addressed in 2010, when the World Wildlie Fund inv

our o Kipsainas members or training on lobbying on land is

anticipating the passing o Kenyas new constitution in August 2

The group continues to play a role in community conserv

issues in Kenya, especially through its association with the Nat

Environmental Management Authority.

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Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITYn term o nancing, Kipsainas operational sustainability has been

nderpinned by the sale o exotic tree seedlings rom the tree

ursery. This provides the only source o income to cover the costs

Kipsainas activities at present, however. The International Crane

oundations grant in 2003 has been the only signicant source o

utside unding or Kipsaina, while the organization has also given

raining to group members on occasion. No unding has been

eceived rom the government. Given the relatively little nancing

eceived, Kipsainas conservation achievements appear even more

mpressive.

ts sustained success has been enabled by its strong reputational

uality among the surrounding communities. This has resulted

rom the leading role played by key individuals in many aspects o

ommunity development. Among these individuals, Maurice Wanjala

tands out as the driving orce behind community conservation and

evelopment. He was the motivation behind the groups oundation,

nd has been its director or the duration o its existence. His

nvolvement with the local Catholic parish, which he ounded in

Kipsaina, and several schools has embedded Kipsainas work within

broader context o community ownership and stewardship o their

atural resources. There is also a strong religious overtone to much

Kipsainas conservation, which has undoubtedly contributed to

ts continued durability and popularity within the villages borderinghe wetlands.

Nonetheless, or its uture development and scaling-up o

onservation eorts, Kipsaina needs several interventions to make it

more sustainable. One such intervention is unding to buy specialized

quipment or its programs, such as the tree nursery. Funding is also

eeded or training o group members in relevant scientic elds,

s well as or research into the appearance o wild elephant grasses

within Kipsaina River, or instance, into water quality, and into the

ecline o numbers o some wildlie species in the area.

REPLICATIONThe Kipsaina model has so ar been implemented in both Bung

where a tree nursery is established, and near the city o Eld

In the latter case, Sitatunga antelopes were being poached

swamps were being depleted. Training was given by Kipsaina

on the importance o maintaining local ecosystems, and ocuse

how community initiatives could contribute to the conservatio

wetlands and the preservation o the sitatunga. Kipsaina helpe

persuade the group to conserve the swamps or ecotourism ins

o draining them or cultivation, relating to its prime locatio

the main road between Kapsabit and Eldoret. This training

acilitated by the Lake Victoria Wetlands Management ProgFurther replication is planned at the ten new sites being ident

or tree nurseries.

PARTNERS

Several partners have been important or enabling Kipsa

conservation and development successes. These include, bu

not limited to:

International Crane Foundation ranks as the initiatives

important partner, having worked alongside Kipsaina s

1992

Endangered Wildlie Trust World Wildlie Fund

Kenya Wildlie Services

National Museums o Kenya

Ministry o Agriculture

National Environment Management Authority

Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)

Lake Victoria Wetland Management Programme


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Equator Initiative

Environment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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New York, NY 10017

Tel: +1 646 781-4023

www.equatorinitiative.org

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change

onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati

o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.

2012 by Equator Initiative

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FURTHER REFERENCE

International Crane Foundation spotlight on Kipsaina: savingcranes.org/the-kipsaina-crane-and-wetlands-conservation-group.htm

Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15780448 (English) vimeo.com/15780521 (Swa

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case studies undp: kipsaina cranes and wetlands conservation group, kenya

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