feasibility assessment for empash oloirienito conservancy 25112011

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FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED EMPASH OLOIRIENITO CONSERVANCY, KENYA.

LEKISHON KENANA, DANIEL MUTETI STEVEN MWIU October 2011

Empash Oloirienito conservancy feasibility report 2011

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Abstract Individual and local communities’ participation and partnership in management and conservation of natural resources within their lands is a key focal area in modern natural resource management. Deliberate efforts by both conservation institutions and communities towards this goal do abound in a few areas in Kenya. As a result a number of community groups and individuals are attempting to establish of conservancies within their areas. However, for a conservancy to be successful and sustainable, a number of prerequisites have to be met prior to their establishment. We review literature on the subject and develop a reference framework for assessing feasibility of establishing such community or individual conservancies. From this framework, a tool is developed that can be used to quantify progress towards the development of conservation areas. The tool scores the steps that are necessary preconditions for establishing a conservancy and on a scale of 1 – 100%, provides a means to measure progress towards their establishment. The tool is applicable in two main ways; first with actual scores it quantifies efforts towards the process of establishing a conservancy. Secondly, the maximum score (100%) less the actual score (for example 70 %), implies a 30% effort is required to achieve the goal of developing a conservancy.We use the tool to evaluate the feasibility of starting the proposed Empash Oloirienito conservancy. Data was collected from the field using a combination of direct interview with the owner and field observation and mapping. GIS overlay analyses were performed on field data using ESRI’S ArcGis9.3 Desktop applications to obtain various required which was then subjected to the evaluation tool. Results showed that within Empash Oloirienito conservancy, dense shrub land vegetation was the largest feature covering 1,1393 Ha (39.4 % of the conservancy) . This was followed by Open Shrub land vegetation covering 816 Ha (18.5 %); Scrub land at 829 Ha (27.4 %); and finally by wooded shrub land at 447 Ha (14.7%). The main land use activity in the area was pastoralism where a variety of livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys are kept. The evaluation criterion revealed that Empash Oloirienito conservancy had scored well and is a feasible idea. The overall weighted Mean score was 80.55% which was variously distributed amongst the evaluated major prerequisite categories. Based on this tool, Empash Oloirienito conservancy has met much of the prerequisites for establishing a conservancy and is fit to be registered as a conservancy. We recommend enhancement of the entrepreneurial capacity of the conservancy is the best next step to be taken in order to guarantee success and sustainability. Such entrepreneurial capacity may include ability of the conservancy to be to identify unique and profitable enterprises to complement the businesses associated with eco- tourism. We suggest exploring opportunities on capacity building for proposal development targeted at adaptation funds, carbon financing and alternative green energies and technologies. Such initiatives should be done by the conservancy itself through creativity, research and inputs from enterprise consultants. In order to complement its products, this study recommends creation of more watering points within the conservancy. This would attract and sustain the water of animals such as Elands, lesser kudu, gerenuks, Leopards, zebras and other ungulate population. The study also highly recommends for conservation and preservation of the African sandal wood (Osyris lanceolata) which was so significant and was at verge of complete disappearance if the current threat it’s facing escalates. We would also recommend for construction of access roads, motorable tracks and foot trails which can be used for patrols and monitoring activities.


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Table of contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1

Criteria for assessment: The evaluation tool .................................................................. 2

Materials and methods .......................................................................................................... 7

Study area: the proposed Empash Oloirienito Conservancy ...................................... 7

Exceptional Resource Values ...................................................................................... 10

Attractive sceneries ..................................................................................................... 10

Threatened Species ..................................................................................................... 11

Sandal Wood ........................................................................................................... 11

Chanler’s mountain reedbuck ..................................................................................... 11

Wild dogs ................................................................................................................ 11

Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 11

Study Methods ................................................................................................................. 14

Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 14

Results .................................................................................................................................... 15

General socio- economic and questionnaire data ........................................................ 15

Current Land use and cover in the conservancy ....................................................... 19

Land cover ..................................................................................................................... 19

Current Land use ......................................................................................................... 20

Proposed Land use in the conservancy ........................................................................ 20

Plant and animal checklist .............................................................................................. 21

Performance on the feasibility evaluation tool ............................................................ 22

Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 25

Conclusion and recommendations .................................................................................... 26

References.............................................................................................................................. 28

Appendices ........................................................................................................................... 29

Appendix 1 Performance of Proposed Empash Oloirienito conservancy on the assessment tool. ................................................................................................................ 29

Appendix 2 Checklist of animals and plants in the conservancy ............................. 30

2.1 Mammals ................................................................................................................. 30

2.2Birds .......................................................................................................................... 30

2.3 Plants Checklist ...................................................................................................... 32

Appendix 3 EOC Conservation Area Development Proposal .............................. 33

Appendix 4 Existing management plan initiative ................................................... 58

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Introduction

Conservationists do agree that in situ conservation is the viable way of conserving biodiversity, natural habitats and ecosystems (Adams, 2004; IUCN, 2003). As such, establishment of Protected Areas (PAs) became the dominant idea of the 20th century. Drawing from the Yellowstone model of 1872 (Were, 2005), Kenya, just like most other African countries embarked on creating Protected Areas in late 1940s with Nairobi National Park coming into existence in 1946. The ideology of the Yellowstone model sought to promote tourism; however it was neither consultative nor scientifically driven. Local communities were thus not involved or consulted largely because indigenous resource use methods were perceived to be incompatible with modern conservation principles based on western philosophy on wildlife conservation (Akama, 1998). Boundaries delineating the PAs too were arbitrary and not ecosystem determined thus the PAs could hardly sustain wildlife without the surrounding dispersal areas. Consequently, and as conservation scientist have always argued, over 70% of wildlife still remains outside Protected Areas at least at certain times of the year as influenced by seasonal weather changes. There is an increasing realization that the management of wildlife resource needs to be inclusive and involve the local communities. Conservation authorities are increasingly becoming aware of the need to involve local communities in managing natural resources to safeguard and secure wildlife resources. Similarly, the local communities are now seeking ways of getting benefits from the wildlife resources on their lands with the hope that wildlife-based ecotourism ventures have the potential to earn them direct revenue.

In recent years, there have been conservation initiatives targeted at empowering local communities to focus on conservation of natural resources. These initiatives include the creation of community wildlife sanctuaries and conservancies. The Maasai community in Amboseli area of Kajiado county for example, have started to appreciate the value of wildlife as they begin to gain direct benefits from eco-lodges (such as Kampi Ya Kanzi in the Chyulu); community wildlife sanctuaries (such as Kimana Community Wildlife Sanctuary) and concession areas such as Kitirua and Eselengei Concession Areas (Okello 2005). These community ecotourism-based wildlife conservation areas are not only expanding wildlife ranges outside neighboring protected areas, but also act as dispersal areas while also contributing positively to the livelihoods of these communities. This has the benefit of reducing insularization of protected areas and keeping critical wildlife corridors and migration routes open (Soule et al. 1979; Western & Ssemakula 1981). It is now common knowledge that for local communities to protect their natural resources, they must obtain some benefits from these resources as a means of


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improving their livelihoods. Guided by this understanding, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has in recent years been keen to involve the local communities in the management of the wildlife resources in their areas. In this regard, it has established a fully fledged department to deal with community enterprises. Key responsibility for this department is to facilitate and encourage local communities, especially those that continue to coexist with wildlife to establish community wildlife conservancies thereby enabling the members to reap tangible benefits from wildlife resources in their land. For the Community Enterprise unit to make informed decision on the viability of an area to be a wildlife conservancy there is need to carry out a feasibility study for any proposed conservancy. The Biodiversity Research and Monitoring team of Southern Conservation Area undertook to carry out a feasibility study for the proposed Empash-Oloirienito conservancy located in the larger Kajiado County. An evaluation criterion developed and used in the southern conservation area was employed in this feasibility study. This evaluation criterion examines not only the potential of the proposed land as a wildlife refuge, but also its ability to attract tourist and investors. As such, the ability of the proposed conservancy to self-sustain is gauged in order to inform management decisions. This report therefore details the findings of the feasibility study exercise that took place between March 28th 2011 and April 22nd 2011 at the proposed Empash Oloirienito conservacy.

Criteria for assessment: The evaluation tool

Studies and literature on the subject of local community‟s involvement in development and management of conservation areas have brought to light necessary steps or prerequisite for conservation areas venture to succeed. There are tools or guidelines that have been established that outline steps that need to be taken when establishing conservation areas (du Toit 2002; Okello et al. 2003). With respect to tourism-based venture, it is acknowledged that tourist attractions (especially large mammals), community willingness and support, tourist and tourism investor opinions, support of conservation stakeholders, and economic viability are among the key prerequisites (Okello 2005). In the context where a conservation venture is to be established within individually owned community lands, the first and foremost prerequisite should be the identification of objectives. Land subdivision is a big impediment to wildlife conservation and complicates the establishment of community based wildlife enterprise by not only fragmenting the land, but also requiring greater coordination and agreements among the land owners. The need for clear agreements on land sub-division can thus, not be over-emphasized as the parcels will often transverse more than one owner necessitating the need for a thorough understanding of the conservation objectives, operations and the whole conservation model.


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A feasible conservation area should exhibit the following characteristics. First and foremost such a community enterprise guided by its aims and target market, i.e. whether consumptive utilization is the goal (Du Toit 2002) or ecotourism. Okello 2003 has highlighted a number of desirable characteristics of a conservation area based on ecotourism. First before establishing a community wildlife sanctuary, the consent of the people has to be sought. The area should be endowed with tourist attractions which include biological, physical and cultural endowments (Wishitemi & Okello, 2003). Tourism options, economic viability arising from significant tourist interest and partnership with tour investors (Emerton, 2000; Sibana & Omwega, 1996) should be assed. It should establish the potential market, gauge interest in products being sold and make forecasts for sustainability. The conservation area should be multiple use areas for ecotourism, resource reservoirs such as water, pasture, etc. and should be accessible to all community members. Emphasis should be on „conservation areas‟ for multiple uses rather than just „community wildlife sanctuaries‟. Should benefit the conservation of resources (especially wildlife), be economically beneficial to local communities, so that they conserve and protect their natural resources. The support of local communities and their leaders (Beresford & Phillips, 2000; Drake, 1996; Newmark & Hough, 2000), and Support and collaboration from other stakeholders in wildlife conservation, tourism industry and related organizations need to be created. Further, sanctuary design issues should also be considered (Burkey, 1994; Western & Ssemakula, 1981). These requirements are summarized in Table 1 below:


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Table 1. Criteria used in the assessment tool for scoring both the major and subcategories of prerequisites for formation of Empash Oloirienito conservancy.

Prerequisite category

Variables Scoring scale Max score

Weight (percentage contribution to overall score)

De

fin

itio

n o

f co

nse

rva

tio

n a

rea

an

d i

de

nti

fica

tio

n o

f

con

serv

an

cy

Spatial definition of Conservancy (boundaries and size)

Present = 1; absent= 0 1 35

Objectives of Conservancy No objective=1; Desired to form conservancy=2; Specific objectives of conservancy=3; Clearly documented objectives of conservancy=4

2

Registration of Conservancy Registered as conservancy=1; not registered=0 0

Understanding of conservation area Proportion of sampled interviewees understanding conservation area

1

Management structure/organization structure Present = 1; absent= 0 0

Documented business plan/operation frame work Present = 1; absent= 0 1

Documentation of conservation area planning Present = 1; absent= 0 1

Sketch/ map Present = 1; absent= 0 0

Potential and desire for multiple use One point for each of the following Objectives of the conservation area should allow multiple uses; Availability of Pasture ; Availability of water; Availability of attractions (biological, Physical and cultural features).

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Land use activities Proportion of conservancy compatible land uses proposed in questionnaires

1

Pro

du

cts

& M

ark

et

ide

nti

fica

tio

n

Identified wildlife related venture Present = 1; absent= 0 1 25

Product definition (selection & specifications)

Selected & specified= 1; otherwise= 0 0

Identified sites for potential tourism development Present = 1; absent= 0 1

Identified target market population Present = 1; absent= 0 1

Unity/agreement of purpose for the area Proportion of sample population agree with establishing of conservancies

1

Agreement of expectations with conservancy Proportion of sampled population agreeing with 1


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objectives conservancy objectives

Tourist attractions

Animal population density in comparison with other tourist sites in circuit

Statistically similar one sample T-test of mean densities for large mammals with other areas within the circuit =1 otherwise= 0 .(Population density for other areas obtained from Okello 2003)

N/A 10

Species composition in comparison with other sites in circuits

Chi- square test for observed versus expected, is similar= 1 otherwise= 0

N/A

Physical features A score for each of the following named feature Rivers; Falls; Geysers & hot springs; Lakes; Hills and cliffs and mountains

2

Cultural features Existing, developed and elaborated for visitor= 3; Existing but not elaborated for visitor= 2; No longer existing but with incentive has potential= 1

N/A

Co

nse

rva

tio

n v

alu

e

Availability of water Permanent streams & wetlands= 3 Natural or artificial permanent pans=2 Seasonal pans and streams= 1

3 5

Habitats diversity

One score for each habitat type Open grasslands; Scrubbed grasslands; Wooded grasslands Riverine vegetation; Forests

4

size Proportion of area to average size of similar conservancies in the area – GIS generated

N/A

Su

pp

ort

Local support for conservation Proportion of sample population supporting conservancies

1 5

Leader support Proportion of sample population supporting conservancies

1


6




Partner tour investors Not identified=1; Potential investors identified and initial discussion done=2; Agreed and documented working collaboration=3; Existing working collaboration with 1 or more collaborators=4

2

Partner conservation organizations Not identified=1; Potential investors identified and initial discussion done =2; Agreed and documented working collaboration=3; Existing working collaboration with 1 or more collaborators=4

2

Lead government support Present = 1; absent= 0 1

Tourist potential

Tourist interest Determined = 1; not determined = 0 1 10

interest in product being sold Determined = 1; not determined = 0 1

Potential economic benefit to local people

Forecast on sustainability Determined = 1; not determined =0 1 10

Projected income to people Determined = 1; not determined = 0 1


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Materials and methods

Study area: the proposed Empash Oloirienito Conservancy

The proposed Empaash Olorienito conservancy is an area of approximately 30 Km2 (7,413 acres) located between latitudes 01o 26‟ 57” S and 01o 31‟ 17” S and longitudes 36o 30‟ 40” E and 36o 33‟ 17” E. Administratively, the conservancy is in the South West of greater Ngong division of Kajiado County. The county borders Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru Counties to the North, Narok County to the West and Machakos County to the East (Figure 1 & 2). The conservancy is a community based initiative that was formed in 2008 by an initial group of 15 families who decided to amalgamate their individual lands to form a conservation unit. It currently has a membership of 19 families, a board of trustees, and a manager. The trustee board is made up of 19 members who oversee the general activities of the Empaash Oloirienito conservancy. The trust is being coordinated by Mr. Paul Kilelu who helped form the trust as its founding manager. The conservancy is currently administered from Kiserian town. The vision of the conservancy trust is to expand to an area of about 100 square kilometers by spreading the message of conservation and community-based eco-tourism to the adjacent neighborhoods. The goal is to help the community address its top priority socio-economic needs. This will be achieved through conservation of the environment and establishment alternative sources of livelihoods. This is important in the area as the quality of pastoralism is fast diminishing and there is increased pressure from other human activities that aggressively compete for grazing lands. The current priority needs of the Trust include: 1) initiation of the process of registration of Empash Oloirienito conservancy as a conservation area with the ministry of Lands, Kenya Wildlife Service and other relevant Government agencies. 2) Capacity building and institutional strengthening 3) development and implementation of effective and sustainable conservation programs such as community mobilization and partnerships, identification and recruitment of community rangers and village scouts and mapping and surveying of the conservancy.


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Figure 1: Location of the study site: the proposed Empash Oloirienito Conservancy


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Figure 2: Aerial view of the proposed Empash Oloirienito Conservancy


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Exceptional Resource Values

Attractive sceneries Empash-Oloirenito consists of a large hill with a series of beautiful peaks and rocky outcrops that offers spectacular view of the earth‟s exquisite geomorphology. At the top of the hill it there is a magnificent panoramic view of the adjacent Magadi lowlands up to the Orgesaile Hills. Within the mountain top is a crater-like depression of deep valleys and gullies that join up at the base of the hill to form seasonal streams. It is believed that there are sites in these deep valleys that no human being has ever reached. This site offers great potential for hiking and extreme adventurous sporting events (Figure 3).

Deep gullies and valleys Series of hills that make up Empash

Panoramic view of Magadi lowlands Some of the Rocky outcrops Figure 3: Some scenic views at Empash Oloirienito


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Threatened Species

Sandal Wood Empash Oloireinito has a number of sandal wood stands on the slopes of the hill. Sandal wood, Osyris lanceolata is an endangered plant that is under heavy commercial exploitation pressure. It is normally used in the production perfume and for its medicinal values. Our observations however revealed that the sandal wood were under heavy pressure of exploitation. Most of the sandal woods seen were uprooted or young showing recovery after exploitation (Figure 4). There is potential for the sandal wood to thrive is protection of this hill is enhanced.

Chanler’s mountain reedbuck The Chanler's Mountain Reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula ssp. chanleri) is an antelope that is found atop the Empash oloirienito hills and on the internal slopes and valleys (Figure 4 & 5). This subspecies of the mountain reedbuck is classified by IUCN as vulnerable (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008). The global population is on a downward trend and the classification may require revision. It is a rarely sighted antelope in Kenya and can be viewed only in a few places.

Wild dogs A number of wild dog sightings have been recorded in the conservancy and the adjacent areas (Figure 6). Residents reported that they frequently observe a pack of about 8 wild dogs. Wild dogs were also reported to be one of the significant predators of livestock particularly sheep and goat.

Wildlife There are a number of wild mammalian, avian and reptilian species found in the conservancy and adjacent areas (Figure 6 & 7). The proposed Empash-Oloirienito conservancy is an important grazing area for wild animals during the dry season. Animals normally feed on the abundant grass on the hill and go down the hill to drink water. Although some of the wild animals seen were not on the conservancy, the conservancy does provide dispersal area for these animals.


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Figure 4: The threatened species at Empash Oloirienito

Figure 5: Chanler's mountain reedbuck on Empash oloirienito hills


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Figure 4 The frequency of wild animals reported by residents of Empash Oloirienito

Assemblage of ungulates Leopard tortoises in the conservancy

Maasai giraffes Grant’s Gazelles

Figure 7 Some animal species in and around Empash Oloirienito conservancy

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Gir

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Animall species


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Study Methods

A combination of field observations, GIS mapping, analysis of remotely sensed data and interviews were used to obtain information in this study. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to the eleven out of 19 land owners in the Empash to obtain socio- economic information concerning the conservancy. Mapping of the conservancy was done using a combination of GPS tracking and satellite imagery analysis. Various study parameters were observed and noted. Vegetation was broadly classified visually into four major categories (dense shrub land, open Shrub land, scrub land and wooded shrub land ) and each of these were studied and mapped. Existing land uses and cover such as crop farms and buildings, scenic points and potential tour circuits were noted and mapped. Sample and direct counts of animals was also done to ascertain the number of species and their population.

Data Analysis

Based on prerequisites for establishing conservancies collated from literature on the subject (Table 1), a scoring system was designed and used to evaluate the proposed conservancy. The proposed area was scored for all the major and subcategories in the scoring system based on observations in the field. GIS overlay analyses were performed on field data using ESRI‟S ArcGis9.3 Desktop applications to obtain various required information in the evaluation criterion. The analysis of the data collected was then subjected to a scoring system where the values were scored depending on the scoring scale. Four scorers including the land owner independently scored the various parameters as per the evaluation tool and a mean of the scores was obtained for each parameter.


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Results

General socio- economic and questionnaire data

A total of 11 people were interviewed representing approximately 61% of the people comprising Empash Oloireinito conservancy with land owners constituting 100% of the respondents (Table 2). Of these respondents, 27% were females and 73% were males. 73% of respondents belonged land owners association with 27% being formally employed, 64% self employed and 9% unemployed. Table 2: summary information about the respondents interviewed. The socio economic parameters are presented as percentages of the sampled population

Information sought Response from interviewees Percentage in Empash (n=11)

Does the interviewee own land

Yes No

100.00 0.00

Gender of interviewee Male 72.73 Female 27.27

Age Class of interviewee Below 20 years 9.09 21- 30 years 9.09 31- 40 years 36.36 41- 50 years 27.27 51- 60 years 9.09 Above 60 years 9.09

Interviewee level of education None 72.72 Primary 9.09 Tertiary 18.18

Membership to land owners association

Member Non member

72.73 25.00

Unknown 02.27

Interviewees employment status

Employed Self employed

27.27 63.64

Unemployed 09.09

Knowledge of a conservation area

Yes

63.64

No 36.36

Support for conservation Yes No

100.00 0.00

Would interviewee set aside land for conservation

Yes No

100.00 0.00


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Majority of the people interviewed were between the ages of 31 to 50 years comprising 64% of the interviewed population. Most of these people (63%) were aware of the proposed Empash Oloireinito conservancy all were willing to set aside part of their land to form the conservancy Table 2. A bigger proportion of the interviewed people said they understood the concept of conservation areas (75.00%) and were willing to support it (79.17%) (Table 2). The main reason for this support was however pegged on benefits (100%). The other reasons cited for supporting conservation included proper consultations and consent (6.52% ) and availability of underutilized land (6.52% ) Responded ranked grazing followed by settlement, firewood source, farming and no use as the main importance of the land in the conservancy (Figure 8A). A bigger portion of the interviewed residents reported that they have noticed habitat deterioration in the land due to anthropogenic pressures including charcoal burning, predation of livestock by wildlife, human wildlife conflicts and overutilization of the land (Figure 8 B &C). The main resource use conflict reported by the respondent were predation by wildlife, farming, conflicts of over water and grazing (Figure 8D) The residents provided a number of solutions to address the problem of habitat deterioration and these included control of charcoal burning, eradication of degradation, increased education and awareness about wildlife, wise use of plant resources, proper planning and land use and establishment of a conservancy (Figure 8 E). On establishing of a conservancy, the residents revealed that the main reason for doing this would be to get revenue from conservation. A number of residents also felt that the land is currently not well utilized and a conservancy would be a good land use option. Other reasons for establishing the conservancy were, to stop land subdivision and charcoal burning, enhance wildlife conservation and create a source of employment for the community (Figure 8F). Expectations that the respondents had from the conservancy included among others: Income from the ecotourism and associated ventures, creation of business opportunities for the members, employment for the community, conflict reductions and enhanced wildlife conservation (Figure 9). The respondents further suggested a number of activities that can be initiated in the conservancy including: curio shops, camp sites, cultural bomas and eco-lodges (Figure 9B). Creation of a conservancy, provision of water and non interference with the land were sighted by the respondents as the ways in which conservation could be enhanced in the area (Figure 9)


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Figure 8: some of the responses received from interviewees in Empash Oloirienito conservancy

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Yes No

Fre

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Have there been habitat change?

0

1

2

3

4

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Pressure on Natural Resources

012345678

Fre

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Reason for a conservancy

0

2

4

6

8

10F

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What is the importance of this area?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Fre

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What are the resource use conflicts in the area?

01234567

Fre

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Proposed solutions to habitat change

A B

C D

E E


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A B

Figure 9: Some interviewee responses in Empash Oloirienito conservancy

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Expectation

What are your expectations from conservancy?

0

1

2

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Income activities to be initiated

What income activities should be initiated?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Create conservancy

Water provision No interferance Education and wareness

Ploughing

Fre

qu

en

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Response

What would be done to enhance conservation?


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Current Land use and cover in the conservancy

Land cover

In terms of Land cover within Empash Oloirienito conservancy, dense shrub land vegetation was the largest feature covering 1,1393 Ha (39.4 % of the conservancy) (Table 3; Figure 10 ). This was followed by Open Shrub land vegetation covering 816 Ha (18.5 %); Scrub land at 829 Ha (27.4 %); and finally by wooded shrub land at 447 Ha (14.7%) Table 3 Table 3: Land cover features and sizes in Empash Oloirienito conservancy

Land use/Land cover feature Area (KM2)

Area (Hectares)

Percentage of conservancy

Dense Shrub land 11.93 1,193 39.4 Open Shrub land 8.61 861 18.5 Scrub land 8.29 829 27.4 Wooded Shrub land 4.47 447 14.7

Total 33.3 3,330 100

Figure 10 The land cover at Empash Oloirienito conservancy


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Current Land use

The main land use activity in the area was pastoralism where a variety of livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys are kept (Figure 11). There were a few small scale crop farm but in the adjoining lands but not in the conservancy. A number of illegal and environmental harmful activities were also recorded such as charcoal burning, tree logging and sandal wood harvesting.

Figure 11: Existing land uses within the conservancy

Proposed Land use in the conservancy

The main land use proposed in the conservancy will be wildlife conservation and

associated ecotourism activities. The conservancy management has a vision to have

one eco-lodge, one resource centre and two shops run by the local women group in

the conservation area (See attached proposal on Appendix 3). Members interviewed

identified other desirable land uses apart from wildlife conservation and associated


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eco- tourism such as livestock grazing, water harvesting, charcoal burning and

livestock ranching (Figure 12).

Figure 12: Proposed Land use in the conservancy

Plant and animal checklist

In five day survey of the area, 14 mammalian species were directly sighted and counted and presence of 3 more species was inferred using indirect sighting methods (Table 4; Appendix 2). Most large mammals were in the neighboring areas next to the conservancy. 90 species of plants were identified and recorded within the four vegetation classes in the conservancy (Figure 13; Table 4; Appendix 2). Two reptilian species and 65 avian species were also recorded in the area. Table 4 Plant and animal species in different taxonomic groups recorded in the study.

Method Mammals Aves Reptiles Plants

Direct sighting 14 65 2 90

Borrows 1

Scats 1

Spoors 1 Total 17 65 2 90

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Proposed Land use Activities

Frequency of proposed Land uses in Empash Conservancy


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Figure 13 animal distributions in and around Empash Oloirienito conservancy

Performance on the feasibility evaluation tool

We present here the results of the mean scores as scored by four evaluators including one the conservancy managers. Although there was slight inter scorer variation in the scores, the scores were nonetheless close and provided data necessary for the estimation of subinterval values in the discrete and non continuous interval scoring scale. The evaluation criterion revealed that Empash Oloirienito conservancy had scored well and is a feasible idea. The overall weighted mean score was 80.55% which was variously distributed amongst the evaluated major prerequisite categories. The pre-requisite category with the highest score was “Tourist potential” (C6) with a mean weighted score of 20 achieving 100% of the ideal scenario (Table 5; Figure14). This category was closely followed by “Products & Market identification” (C2) with


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a mean weighted score of 131.25 being 87.5 % of the maximum possible scores (Table 5; Figure14). “Definition of conservation area and identification of conservancy” (C1) category also scored highly getting a mean weighted score of 543.84 representing 86.32% of ideal conditions. Next to this was category “support” (C5) which had a mean weighted score of 30 achieving 60% of ideal scores (Table 5; Figure14). Two categories , “Tourist attractions” (C3) and “conservation value” (C4), were very close to each other scoring a mean weighted score of 57.5and 25 representing 57.5% and 55.56% of the ideal situation respectively. “Potential economic benefit to the local people” (C7) which had a mean weighted score of 10 representing 50% of maximum possible scores was the lowest category evaluated.

Figure 14: Mean weighted (A) and percentage (B) scores for categories in the evaluation tool. C1 = Definition of conservation area and identification of conservancy, C2= Products & Market identification, C3= Tourist attractions, C4= conservation value C5= support, C6= Tourist potential and C7= potential economic benefit to the local people

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7

Pe

rce

nta

ge w

eig

hte

d s

core

Pre - requisite categories

Percentage weighted score for categories in the evaluation tool

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7

We

igh

ted

sco

res

Pre-requisite categories

Mean weighted scores for categories in the evaluation tool

Maximum

Mean

A B


24

Table 5 Summary of the Major categories scores from the assessment tool. Note see appendix 1 for actual parameters for scoring

Raw scores Weighted Scores

Pre- requisite Category Scorer W

eig

ht

Idea

l

Kil

elu

Ke

na

na

Mu

teti

Nd

am

bu

ki

Me

an

Idea

l

Kil

elu

Ke

na

na

Mu

teti

Nd

am

bu

ki

Me

an

Perc

en

tag

e

Definition of conservation area and identification of conservancy

35 18 15.79 15.79 15.79 14.79 15.54 630 552.59 552.59 552.59 517.59 543.84 86.32

Products & Market identification 25 6 5 5 6 5 5.25 150 125 125 150 125 131.25 87.5

Tourist attractions 10 10 7 6 5 5 5.75 100 70 60 50 50 57.5 57.5

Conservation value 5 9 4.25 5.25 5.25 5.25 5 45 21.25 26.25 26.25 26.25 25 55.56

Support 5 10 5 6 8 5 6 50 25 30 40 25 30 60

Tourist potential 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 20 20 20 20 20 100

Potential economic benefit to local people 20 2 1 1 0 2 1 20 10 10 0 20 10 50

Total 57.00 40.04 41.04 42.04 39.04 40.54 1015 823.84 823.84 838.84 783.84 817.59 80.55

Percentage 100.00 70.24 72 73.75 68.49 71.12 100.00 81.17 81.17 82.64 77.23 80.55

25

Discussion

In this study a reference framework upon which efforts toward establishment of conservancies could be evaluated was used. Based on this framework a tool was developed and used to quantify progress towards the development of Empash Oloirienito conservancy. The tool scores the steps that are necessary preconditions for establishing a conservancy and on a scale of 1 – 100%, provides a means to measure progress towards their establishment. The tool is applicable in two main ways; first with actual scores it quantifies efforts towards the process of establishing a conservancy. Secondly, the maximum score (100%) less the actual score (for example 70 %), implies a 30% effort is required to achieve the goal of developing a conservancy. In so doing we acknowledge however inherent difficulties in assigning meaning to scores form the tool. Nonetheless we are convinced that by and large the tool is able to quantify progress and highlight areas for further attention. When all prerequisites categories are considered, results show that the proposed Empash Oloirienito conservancy does meet most of the processes required in establishing a feasible conservation area. Having presented the above results, the natural question that follows this is how much is so much, what is the threshold or what is the pass mark for an area to be considered feasible? The answer to this question is not simple and at best is only subjective. We however strongly believe that the success of any initiative will be directly proportional and equivalent to its percentage rating. Results show that there has been a lot of ground work done or high expectation in terms of tourism and tourist potential. High scores on this category would indicate that the potential and interest of tourist to visit the site has been determined. In the case of Empash Oloirienito conservancy this seems to be the case as deduced from information given by the manager. A closely related category is product identification and this would similarly indicate that conservancy owners are clear and know what they want to go for in terms of eco -tourism. Contrastingly however is the observation that tourist attractions category scored relatively low. This can be attributed to the seasonally low density of wildlife species in the conservancy which is the main attractant to conventional tourists. For tourism therefore to yield good returns in the conservancy, there is need to have precise strategies aimed at a targeted clientele. Such strategies might be the apparent reason for the high precision in product and market identification and tourist potential scores.


26

The lower scoring categories for Empash Oloirienito included “conservation” value and “projected income to the local people|. The reasons for these are clear. As for the conservation value, the major limitation for the conservancy is source of water. Due to scarcity of water the residence time of wildlife in the conservancy is reduced and it would appear like the conservancy has few to no animals especially in the wet season. The geomorphology of the area however presents great opportunity to harvest surface water runoff and enhance wildlife use of the area. The terrain within the conservancy presents a natural advantage for creating surface dams - an opportunity worth exploiting. If this is done then wildlife would stay more in the conservancy as food is plenty. The other opportunity to pursue to enhance this score is to expand the conservancy since for conservation, the large the area the better. Concerning the category “projected income to the local people”, the low scores is a function of the capacity of the conservancy to identify and estimate income from economic enterprise projects to be created in the conservancy. To improve on these scores, the entrepreneurial capacity of the conservancy such as ability to develop a proper business plan needs to be enhanced. When looked from this perspective the conservancy is therefore strategically placed to enhance conservation since if it succeeds, it would have greatly demonstrated means by which conservation is resourceful to a populace who would otherwise imagine they have little to offer to conservation of wildlife. We would like to make a note on the wildlife checklists presented in this report and caution the readers on its interpretation. These checklists are not exhaustive and it is highly likely that there are more animals and plant species present in the conservancy than those listed in this study. Developing a more comprehensive list would require detailed inventorying especially of the lower animal taxa which was not in the scope of this study. We recommend that our checklists be interpreted in the context of a five day index of the ease of finding plant and animals given a non trapping searching effort. This checklist can be used as a rapid way of assessing and comparing species richness between different conservancies. The reasoning behind is that the more richer a place is in terms of wildlife, the more species would be seen given a casual visit in the area.

Conclusion and recommendations

In this study a tool that is useful in quantifying progress towards establishment of conservancies is developed. Based on this tool, Empash Oloirienito


27

conservancy has met much of the prerequisites for establishing a conservancy and is fit to be registered as a conservancy.

We conclude that enhancement of the entrepreneurial capacity of the conservancy is the best next step to be taken in order for the conservancy to succeed and be sustainable. Such entrepreneurial capacity would include: capacity of the conservancy to be able to identify unique and profitable enterprises. This may be achieved by creativity, research and engagement of the services of a business/ enterprise consultant. Possible enterprises in addition to the traditional eco-tourism activities include but not limited to:

1) Capacity building the conservancy for proposal developments

2) Proposals targeted at Global adaptation funding

3) Exploration of carbon Financing

4) Exploration of alternative green energy and technologies

In order to complement its products, this study recommends creation of more watering points within the conservancy. This would attract and sustain the water of animals such as Elands, lesser kudu, gerenuks, Leopards, zebras and other ungulate population.

The study also highly recommends for conservation and preservation of the African sandal wood (Osyris lanceolata) which was so significant and was at verge of complete disappearance if the current threat it‟s facing escalates.

We would also recommend for construction of access roads, motorable tracks and foot trails which can be used for patrols and monitoring activities.


28

References

AKAMA, J. S. (1998). The evolution of wildlife conservation policies in Kenya. Journal of Third world Studies, Vol XV(2): 103 – 117. BURKEY, T. (1994) Faunal collapse in East African game reserves revisited Biol. Cons. 7(1): 107–110. DU TOIT, J.T. ( 2002) Wildlife harvesting guidelines for community-based wildlife management: a southern African perspective. Biodivers. Conserv. 11: 1403– 1416 EMERTON, L. (2000). Economic incentives for biodiversity: how eastern African countries are making biodiversity attractive. Innovation: Biodiversity for Secure Livelihoods in Africa 7(1): 17–20. IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008. Redunca fulvorufula ssp. chanleri. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. OKELLO, M. M. (2005) Land Use Changes and Human - Wildlife Conflicts in the Amboseli Area, Kenya. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 10(1): 19 – 28 OKELLO, M.M., SENO, S.K., & WISHITEMI, B. L. (2003) Maasai community wildlife sanctuaries in Tsavo – Amboseli Ecosystem, Kenya: management partnerships and their conditions for success. Parks 13(1): 7 - 15. IUCN Gland, Switzerland. SOULE, M.E., WILCOX, B.A. & HOLTBY, C. (1979) Benign neglect: a model of faunal collapse in game reserves of East Africa. Biol. Cons. 15: 259–272.

WERE, E. M. (2005). The domain of authority and sphere of influence of wildlife conservation and management policy in Kenya. Journal of Third World Studies, Vol. XXII(2): 227 – 248. WESTERN, D. & SSEMAKULA, J. (1981) The future of savannah ecosystems: ecological islands or faunal enclaves? Afr. J. Ecol. 19: 7–19.

WISHITEMI, B.E & OKELLO, M.. (2003) Application of the Protected Landscape Model in Southern Kenya. Parks. 13 (2): 12-21.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/


29

Appendices

Appendix 1 Performance of Proposed Empash Oloirienito conservancy on the assessment tool.

Measurable variables score values

Definition of conservation area and identification of conservancy

Spatial definition of Conservancy (boundaries and size) 1 Present (Conservancy Boundary well defined)

Defined objectives of Conservancy 4 Five clearly documented objective(see appendix 3 the attached proposal)

Entity registration 3 Registered as a trust

Understanding of conservation area 0.8 Proportion

Management structure/organization structure 1 present

Documented business plan/operation frame work 1 present

Documentation of conservation are planning 1 present

Sketch/ map 1 present

Potential and desire for multiple use 2 1. Pasture; 2. Ecotourism

Proportion of conservancy compatible activities 0.97 proportion

Product identification and definition

Identified wildlife related venture 1 conservancy

Product definition and specification 0 Not selected and specified

Identified sites for potential tourism development 1 Present

Identified target market population 1 present

Unity/agreement of purpose for area 1 Proportion

Tourist attractions

Animal population density 0 Statistically similar

Species composition 0 Statistically similar

Physical features 2 1. River; 2. Rock out crops

Cultural features 2 Existing but not elaborated

Conservation value

Availability of water 1 Seasonal streams

Habitats diversity 4 1. Dense Shrub land;

2. Open Shrub land;

3. Scrub land

4. Wooded Shrub land

Size 0.25 Proportion

Support

Local support conservation 1 proportion

Leader support 1 proportion

Partner tour investors 1 None

Partner conservation organizations 2 Potential investors identified and initial discussions done

lead government support 1 Kws; Office of prime minister

Touristic potential

Tourist interest 1 determined

Interest in product being sold 1 determined

Potential economic benefit to local people

forecast on sustainability 1 determined

projected income to people 0 Not determined


30

Appendix 2 Checklist of animals and plants in the conservancy

2.1 Mammals

No Common name Scientific name

1 Mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula spp chanleri

2 Cape eland Taurotragus oryx

3 Common zebra Equus burchelli

4 Grants gazelle Nanger granti

5 Impala Aepyceros melampus

6 Gerenuk Litocranius walleri

7 Aardvark Orycteropus afer

8 Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta

9 Bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus

10 Olive baboon Papio anubis

11 Genet Genetta genetta

12 Unstriped ground squirrel Xerus rutilus

13 African hare Lepus capensis

14 Kirks dikdik Madoqua kirkii

15 Bush duiker Sylvicapra grimmia

16 Rock hyrax Procavia capensis

17 Hedgehog Atelerix albiventris

2.2Birds

S/no. Common name Scientific name

1 Crowned lapwing Vanellus coronatus

2 Grey headed sparrow Passer griseus

3 Superb starling Lamprotornis superbus

4 Hildebrandt starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti

5 Grey flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus

6 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica

7 Black sawing Psalidoprocne pristoptera

8 Fawn colored lark Mirafra africanoides

9 Spectacled weaver Ploceus ocularis

10 Common fiscal Lanius collaris humeralis

11 Rattling cisticola Cisticola chiniana

12 Tawny-flanked prinia Prinia subflava melanorhyncha

13 Red-billed firefinch Lagonosticta senegala 14 Drongo Dicrurus a. adsimilis

15 Slate colored boubou Laniarius funebris

16 Ring-necked dove Streptopelia capicola

17 African hoopoe Upupa epops

18 Abyssinian scimitarbill Rhinopomastus minor cabanisi

19 Red and yellow barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

20 Black bellied bustard Lissotis melanogaster

21 Grey wren warbler Calamonastes simplex

http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk/fly-g.htm


31

22 Eastern double colored sunbird Nectarinia mediocris

23 Chin-spot batis Batis molitor

24 Blue napped moosebird Urocolius macrourus

25 D‟Arnands barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii

26 White-browed scrub robin Cercotrichas leucophrys

27 Emerald-spotted wood dove Turtur chalcospilos

28 Black-crowned tchagra Tchagra s. senegala

29 Grey capped social weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi 30 White-bellied go-away bird Corythaixoides leucogaster

31 Abyssinian roller Coracias abyssinicus

32 Lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus

33 Red-fronted barbet Tricholaema diademata

34 Crested francolin Francolinus sephaena

35 African yellow white eye Zosterops senegalensis

36 Nubian woodpecker Campethera nubica

37 Rufous-napped lark Mirafra africana

38 Lemon dove Columba larvata

39 Common bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus

40 Black cuckoo shrike Campephage flava

41 Helmeted guinea fowl Numida meleagris

42 Von der dickens hornbill Tockus deckeni

43 Common waxbill Estrilda astrild

44 Lizard buzzard Kaupifalcon monogrammicus

45 Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis

46 Black-headed heron Ardea melanocephala

47 Black faced sand grouse Pterocles decoratus

48 White-browed sparrow weaver Plocepasser mahali

49 Speckled pigeon Columba guinea

50 Namaqua dove Oena capensis

51 White-headed buffalo weaver Dinemellia dinemelli

52 Grey-crowned crane Balearica regulorum

53 Grasshopper buzzard Butastur rufipennis

54 Cinnamon-chested bee eater Merops oreobates

55 Marabou stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus

56 Common eagle owl Bubo bubo

57 Hadada ibis Bostrychia hagedash

58 Kori bustard Ardeotis kori

59 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata axillaris

60 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta

61 Amethyst sunbird Nectarinia amethystina

62 Beautiful sunbird Nectarinia pulchella

63 White napped raven Corvus albicollis

64 Spotted morning thrush Cichladusa g. guttata

65 Pied crow Corvus albus


32

2.3 Plants Checklist

1 Abutilon theophrasti**** 38 Euclea divinorum 79 Rhus natalensis $ vulgaris

2 Acacia brevispica 39 Euphobia cuneata 80 Salvadora persica

3 Acacia drepanolobium 40 Euphobia spp 81 Sericocomophsis parida

4 Acacia kirkii 41 Ficus thoningii 82 Sida ovata

5 Acacia mellifera 42 Flagia spp 83 Solanum incanum

6 Acacia nilotica 43 Grewia bicolor 84 Sterculia stanocapa

7 Acacia nubica 45 Grewia similis 85 Tarconanthus Spp

8 Acacia senegal 46 Grewia tembensis 86 Terminalia brownii

9 Acacia seyal 47 Grewia tenax 87 Vangueria infausla

10 Acacia tortilis 48 Grewia vilosa 88 Withania somnifera

11 Acacia xanthophloea 49 Heliotrophium spp 89 Zanthoxylum chalybeum

12 Albizia spp 50 Hibiscus fruticosum 90 Ziziphus mucronata

13 Asparagus africana 51 Hibiscus micrantha

14 Asparagus resmosa 52 Hypoestis deflexa

15 Azima tetracantha 53 Indigofera erector

16 Barlerria eranthomoides 54 Indigofera schimperi

17 Bidens pilosa 55 Ipomoea donaldosonni

18 Boscia angustifolia 56 Ipomoea wightii

19 Boscia coreacea 57 Justicia flava

20 Cadaba farinosa 58 Lannea alata

21 Caparis tomentosa 59 Lannea cuneata

22 Combretum aculeatum 60 Lannea tryphyilla

23 Combretum collinum 61 lantana trifolia

24 Combretum herorense 62 Lippia javanica

25 Combretum molle 63 Maerua kirkii

26 Commiphora africana 64 Maerua spp

27 Commiphora baluensis 65 Maytenus spp

28 Commiphora edulis 66 Mba -(kamba)

29 Commiphora rostrata 67 Melia vonkensii

30 Cordia monoica 68 Ochina inamis

31 Cordia ovalis 69 Ocimum gratissimum

32 Cordia somalense 70 Ocimum kilimandscharicum

33 Crotolaria spp 71 Osmum basilicum

34 Croton dichogamous 72 Osmum suave

35 Croton megalocapus 73 Osyris lanceolata (Afri. Sandal wood)

36 Dichryostachus spp 74 Pavonia arabica

37 Erythrina burtii 75 Premna origotricha


33

Appendix 3 EOC Conservation Area Development Proposal

CONSERVANCY AREA

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

Empaash Oloorienito Conservancy Trust

(EOCT). Paul S. Kilelu, Manager

6/15/2010

P. O. Box 285 Kiserian 00206 Email: [email protected]

Cell: 254-722668800 Kenya

mailto:[email protected]

34

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The lack of adequate grass and water for our cattle has created economic and social strife within our own

community. To address this situation; we proposed to consolidate our individual parcels of land as a

community to make a conservation area which will create jobs for the local youth and at the same time

protect biodiversity at this buffer zone of Nairobi National Park. We will consult with our community

leadership on who will be employed in the conservation area and solicit assistance from Kenya Wildlife

Service (KWS) to provide expertise and equipment in Wildlife protection in conservation area.

We envision having one ecolodge, one resource centre and two shops run by the local women group in the

conservation area. The successful completion of this project would create an increase in economic stability

for the community landowners, increased family stability, decreased dependency on food aid programs,

and increased Maasai men and women members self esteem through a greater ability of self sufficiency .

It will also create room habitable to wild life (endangered species). This vision is expected to be

accomplished through;

Establishing strong community partnership and goodwill for project success and sustainability

through strategic meetings, mobilization, and involvement of community and relevant government

ministries and departments and other resource partners.

Increasing institutional and personnel capacity of the EOCT, including 9 trustees and 13staff on;

conservancy development and management, strategic planning and resource mobilization and CBETE

development and management through training and exchange learning trips to at least three

established conservancies in Kenya/ Tanzania.

Developing and providing alternative livelihood support system that fosters bio-diversity conservation

to the pastoralist EOC community through creation of a conservation area and establishment of two

pilot community-based eco-tourism enterprises (CBETEs).

Providing increased access to quality and adequate levels of education to deserving bright children

from poor families in the EOC community through setting up an education fund

Providing adequate human and administrative resources to ensure success and sustainability of the

integrated 3 year conservation, CBETE, and education development project through identification,

placement, development, maintenance and support of 5 managerial/ technical and 8 support staff.

In order to realise the results in this proposal, EOC needs Kshs 75, 792, 180 (USD 1,052,669) the next

three years– see the summary tables below. We are therefore appealing your esteemed organization to

consider supporting the EOC community financially by adopting at least one objective/project component

as proposed under this proposal.

SUMMARY BUDGET Year KSHS USD

Budget Year One 22,036,893 306,068

Budget Year Two 40,479,727 562,218

Budget Year Three 13,275,560 184,383

USD 75,792,180 1,052,669

See attached MS Excel file for more details of the project’s budget.

35

INTRODUCTION Background to the Organization

The Empaash Oloorienito Conservancy (EOC) trust is a community based trust formed

in 2008 initially by a group of 15 families to help the community address its priority

socio-economic needs through conservation of the living environment and establishment

of one of the most viable livelihood alternatives available in Maasai land in the face of

diminishing Pastoralism and other human activities aggressively competing for former

grazing lands.

The EOCT is located in Empaash, South West of greater Ngong division of Kajiado

district and borders Narok south district to the west. The EOCT hopes to able to spread

the conservation and community-based eco-tourism message to more families in the area

and beyond to capture an area of about 100 square kilometers.

The EOCT has a board of trustees of 15 members and oversees the Empaash Oloorienito

Conservancy area of about 30 square kilometers. The trust is being coordinated by Mr.

Paul Kilelu who helped form the trust as its founding manager.

The EOCT is currently run from Kiserian town in a shared office with xxxxx, a partner

NGO and hopes that in the near future, it will be able to establish its own offices at the

conservancy itself as well as in Kiserian town to coordinate all conservancy activities

and visitors.

Background to the project

Today there is increasing evidence, both scientific and anecdotal that there is great need

in the Maasai community for sustainable livelihood in the face of historical

marginalization, increased poverty, and declining quality of life that puts the community

at increasing risk and vulnerability to both natural and man-caused disasters. Of

particular interest are: the conservation of the living environment and its diverse

resources, access to all levels of education for members of the Maasai community, and

natural resources conservation.

Traditional Maasai livestock production (Pastoralism) has become unsustainable and

therefore poverty has increased. Among other factors such as frequently recurring

drought, the decline is due to a lack of adequate policy support and effective markets for

livestock products. As a result, the indigenous minority Maasai community is highly

vulnerable to disposing of the only lasting asset they have – land -- and of losing their

traditional pastoral identity through assimilation by the more economically endowed

immigrant communities who buy and settle on the land. Additionally, poverty has put

greater stress on the indigenous animals and other ecosystems.

One of the main objectives for formation of the EOC trust is to protect the community’s

land and its high tourism and film production potential from being sold to non-

indigenous people.

These objectives would be accomplished through the establishment of sustainable

community based eco-tourism enterprises (CBETEs) to supplement limited income from

livestock production/Pastoralism.


36

The CBETEs have high potential for conservation of the natural environment and its

biodiversity as well as income generation and employment opportunities. Part of the

EOC trust’s vision is also to establish an education trust fund to be funded by a

percentage of the CBETEs income and donations from well-wishers to increase access

to adequate quality education for the community’s children. This in turn will provide

the community the capacity and skills needed to engage in various livelihood source

initiatives and well-paying employment opportunities. In addition, the EOC trust have

the strong desire to promote and sustain respect for human rights, land rights, good and

democratic governance and control of historical and cultural sites for the betterment of

the livelihood of the Maasai community of Kenya.

The EOC trust envisions a socio-economically empowered Maasai community deriving its livelihood from conserving its living environment.

Priority Needs

Towards this vision, the EOC trust has identified a number of priority needs that needed to be addressed in order to move the trust and the communities it serves forward towards accomplishment of its short- term, mid- term and long term objectives. These priority actions include:

i. Increased capacity building of the board of trustees and senior management staff in conservancy management, strategic planning and resource mobilization

ii. Two coordination offices; at Kiserian and at the conservancy; including recruitment of administrative, support and conservation staff and volunteers

iii. Adequate capacity of employed and volunteer conservation rangers

iv. Establishment of two pilot community-based eco-tourism enterprises(CBETEs); one at xxxxx and the other at xxxx

v. Registration and recognition of the EOC area as a conservancy by the ministry of Lands, KWS and other relevant GoK departments

Proposed Solutions

The EOC sees the solutions to these priority needs as indicated in the following table:

Priority Need Proposed Solution

1. Increased capacity building of the board of trustees and senior management staff in conservancy management, strategic planning and resource mobilization

1. An exchange learning trip on conservancy development and management for the Board of trustees and key community opinion leaders

2. A training workshop on strategic planning

3. A training workshop on resource mobilization and CBETE management

2. Two coordination offices; at Kiserian and at the conservancy;

4. 36 months conservation organization institution capacity support to establish the two offices including; recruitment of an office administrator(2),


37

including recruitment of administrative, support and conservation staff and volunteers

receptionist(2), driver(2), conservation extension officer (1) and rangers (5)

5. Two 4wd vehicles; one for office coordination and the other for eco-tourism activities in the conservancy.

3. Adequate capacity of employed and volunteer conservation rangers

6. Training of the 5 rangers and 4 admin staff to better perform in their jobs

7. An Exchange learning trip for the 5 rangers in 2 batches to at least three established conservancies in Kenya/ Tanzania

4. Increased by-in of conservation and CBETE activities by the target community through visible outcomes of the EOCT.

8. Establishment of two pilot community-based eco-tourism enterprises(CBETEs); one at xxxxx and the other at xxxx

5. Recognition of the EOC area as a conservancy by the government and other stakeholders.

9. Strategic and partnership meetings and events by the EOCT with the relevant GoK ministries (ministry of Lands, KWS and other relevant GoK departments and departments) and other resource partners

Towards its first priority need, the EOCT has written this proposal to the KWS for support in capacity building of the 15 trustees and 15 local leaders in conservancy management through an exchange learning trip to Lewa conservancy in Laikipia district, xxxx in Lamu district and xxx in

Target beneficiaries

Primary beneficiaries will be the EOCT trustees and selected key community leaders

including; area counselor, chiefs, age-set leaders, key community opinion leaders

Secondary beneficiaries shall be the 800 EOC area household with a population of about

8000 people. 6 women groups comprised of a total of about 250 members, 3 linked to

each of the CBETE shall benefit from increased market access for their traditional and

customized wares/artifacts from the Maasai community. This will also mean improved

quality of life for about 250 households within the first 2 years of the project and more

in the coming years. Bright needy pupils and students from the EOC community shall

benefit from the education trust fund to be set up within the next 36 months.


38

The living environment and its diverse bio-diversity shall benefit in the short, mid and

long terms in various ways as the community get to increasingly get to appreciate the

value of conservation mixed with ecotourism.


39

PROJECT OBJECTIVES Goal

To improve the socio-economic conditions of the pastoralist community at Empaash

Oloorienito in Kajiado district, Kenya, through conservation of the natural and bio-

diversity rich environment

Specific Objectives

The project shall specially seek to:

1. Establish strong community partnership and goodwill for project success and

sustainability through strategic meetings, mobilization, and involvement of

community and relevant government ministries and departments and other resource

partners.

2. Increase institutional and personnel capacity of the EOCT, including 9 trustees and

13staff on; conservancy development and management, strategic planning and

resource mobilization and CBETE development and management through training

and exchange learning trips to at least three established conservancies in Kenya/

Tanzania.

3. Develop and provide alternative livelihood support system that fosters bio-diversity

conservation to the pastoralist EOC community through creation of a conservation

area and establishment of two pilot community-based eco-tourism enterprises

(CBETEs).

4. Provide increased access to quality and adequate levels of education to deserving

bright children from poor families in the EOC community through setting up an

education fund

5. Provide adequate human and administrative resources to ensure success and

sustainability of the integrated 3 year conservation, CBETE, and education

development project through identification, placement, development, maintenance

and support of 5 managerial/ technical and 8 support staff.


40

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

I. Summary

The proposed EOCT conservation and socio-economic empowerment project shall be

implemented over 36 months from July 2010 with key highlights being: the three core

themes/result areas of the project include: conservation, community-based eco-tourism

enterprises (CBETEs) and education development. Along with these is the cross-cutting

theme of institutional and human capacity development given that the EOCT is a

relatively new organization.

The project shall start with administrative and institutional and personnel capacity

building activities including; office set up, orientation of the board of trustees in

conservation, CBETE and education development activities, recruitment, orientation and

training of EOCT staff.

The capacity building initiatives shall be followed by development and implementation

of effective and sustainable conservation and CBETEs activities including; community

mobilization and partnership, identification and recruitment of community rangers and

village scouts, mapping and surveying of the conservancy and mid-term registration of

the conservancy with the relevant government ministries and departments. The

conservation initiatives shall be capped by the establishment of two pilot community-

based ecotourism enterprises sites in the most suited and strategic locations within the

conservancy.

The education development activities shall entail establishment of an education trust

fund and trust education investment account, establishment of education support

beneficiary criteria, mobilization of the community to identify most deserving needy and

bright pupils and students based on the beneficiaries criteria and support of the first

batch of beneficiaries in the last year of the project.


41

Human resources management and administrative activities shall include; development

of project staff JDs, HR payroll, statutory deductions and payment systems,

identification and recruitment of project staff, staff performance appraisals, planning and

development and separation and replacement as necessary. Administrative activities

shall include; planning, provision and management of transportation, travel, logistical,

communication and other office services to create a conducive environment for high

staff productivity.

II. Start up Activities

i. Three community meetings to discuss the development and implementation of the

EOC development plans.

ii. Strategic partnership meetings and events with the Kenya Wildlife Service Ngong

station

iii. Resource mobilization meetings and events with the Kenya Wildlife Service Ngong

station

iv. Partnership & Resource mobilization meetings and events with other relevant GoK

ministries (ministry of Lands, and other relevant GoK departments and

departments) and other resource partners.

III. Institutional & Personnel Capacity Building

v. Exchange learning trip on conservancy development and management for the 15

EOC trustees and 14 other key community opinion leaders to successful

conservancies in Kenya including; Mwaluganje, Porirni, Kigio and Lewa between

July & August 2010.

vi. Organize and conduct a strategic planning and resource mobilization workshop for

9 members of the board of trustees & 5 management staff

vii. Organize and conduct a conservancy management and protection workshop for 9

BOT members and 13 EOCT staff.

viii. Organize an exchange learning trip to at least three established conservancies in

Kenya and Tanzania for 5 management staff and 5 rangers.


42

IV. Conservation & CBETEs Activities

ix. Identify qualified surveyor organization to undertake a professional survey of the

EOCT coverage area

x. Conduct a professional survey and make maps of the EOCT conservation area

xi. Identification of four main gates and four most suitable locations for sighting

community-based eco-tourism enterprises (CBETEs).

xii. Development of a detailed conservation & CBETEs strategy suited for the EOC

area.

xiii. Fund raising for conservancy seed funds

xiv. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in conservation activities

xv. Monitoring & evaluating the conservation & CBETEs activities

xvi. Baseline Assessment for the establishment of CBETEs in the EOC area

xvii. Establishment of two pilot community-based eco-tourism enterprises(CBETEs)

xviii. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in CBETEs activities

V. Education Development

xix. Establishment of an education trust fund to support bright but needy children from

the EOC community.

xx. Fund raising for education fund seed funds

xxi. Establishment of the education trust fund investment account

xxii. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in Education development

activities

xxiii. Identification, recruitment and profiling of scholarship recipients

xxiv. Monitoring the education development activities

VI. HR & Admin

xxv. Identify a project support office in Kiserian town

xxvi. Recruitment of 8 EOCT support staff including; 5 rangers, 2 office assistants and a

driver.

xxvii. Recruitment of 5 EOCT senior staff including; 3 technical officers for;

conservation, socio-economic development and education development, 1 office

administrator and 1 accountant.

xxviii. Identify names of game scouts and forward them to KWS for training.

xxix. Initiating and follow up of registration process for the EOC area.


43

xxx. Running and maintenance of office & operational support services

xxxi. HR management and Development


44

PROJECT MANAGEMENT & COORDINATION

Board of trustees (BoT)

The EOC board of trustees forms the policy making and oversight body for the trust and

conservancy activities. It is made up of 9 trustees selected from and representing all the

key sub-areas and families within the EOC area. The BoT meets once quarterly and

organizes the EOCT AGM annually to review the performance and policies of the trust.

The BoT provides oversight to trust and CBETEs management staff to ensure correct

and transparent implementation of trust policies, strategic plan and achievement of

performance goals.

Project Management & Technical Staff

Management staff includes the manager; Mr. Paul S. Kilelu, two conservation officers,

the accountant and administrator. The core mandate of the management staff led by the

conservancy manager is to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the trust’s

annual operations plans towards meeting set strategic and performance objectives.

The conservancy manager has overall responsibility to ensure operational success of the

conservancy, socio-economic and education activities of the trust and to provide

supervision to all technical and support staff towards achievement of operational and

strategic performance targets. Mr. Kilelu has 10 years experience in organizing

community groups within Maasailand to address community concerns and issues.

The conservation, socio-economic and education development officers shall be

responsible for providing sound technical advice to the manager, various community

groups and other key stakeholders in the planning, implementation and coordination of

conservation, CBETE and education development activities of the EOCT.

Support staff

The EOCT support staff shall comprise the 5 rangers, admin assistants and driver. The

support staffs are meant to provide the necessary operational support to the technical and

management staff to carry out their critical conservation, socio-economic development

and education development activities. The support staff shall be the first to be recruited


45

after the conservation manager and oriented on their jobs. These shall form a critical

part of the entire operations team that includes the management and technical staff.

Community volunteers

At least 2 out of the 5 conservancy rangers shall be community volunteers with capacity

and potential to do their jobs well. Additionally 15 village scouts shall be identified to

provide additional conservation support to the5 rangers and technical staff. The

community volunteers shall be given on-job training by the technical staff and rangers as

well as a monthly stipend of Kshs 3000/= to ensure commitment to conservation and

socio-economic development of the target community. They will form the lowest

project/trust structure directly in contact with the community and will be very

instrumental in community mobilization for towards achievement of the trust’s goals

and strategic objectives.


46

MONITORING & EVALUATION The project manager will continually monitor the project activities to ensure that the

project proceeds as planned. Progress reports will be prepared and presented every two

months to the community and to KWS and other donors for review.

To determine the success of the project in meeting the stated goals, information will be

gathered on both the short, mid and long term community results of the projects in terms

of immediate outputs, intermediate outcomes and long term impacts of the project

actions.

The short term results will include increased knowledge, skills and adoption of correct

attitudes needed to undertake conservation, ecotourism and education development

activities as planned. The project is also expected to all the outputs as indicted in the

project milestones table in section xxx below.

Expected Intermediate results include increase in self esteem for the community

members as they start to realise positive changes brought about by the project.. others

include the increased number of community members involved and engaged in

conservation activities and increased number of eco-tourism visitors per year to the

conservancy.

Long terms results will be measured through project mid-term and end term evaluations

factored in the project. It is expected that some of the immediate long term impacts will

be increased quality of life for the community members, especially those directly

involved in the project in one or more of the proposed initiatives. Others include;

improved quality of education in the EOC community,

Increased number of and diversified wildlife found in the conservation area as a

result of better natural habitats.

Reduced number of youth moving out of the community to look for jobs in the

urban towns

Reduced number of people depending on government and donor relief for their

basic livelihoods

Improved economic and social condition of EOC community members as a

result of development of a renowned conservation and eco-tourism sanctuary


47

Information on the project will be gathered and shared on a quarterly basis through

programmatic, human resources and financial management reports. These reports may

be combined into one or two separate reports with the Financial and Human resources

returns forming one report and the programmatic report forming the other.

48

PROJECT WORK PLAN & MILESTONES

WORK PLAN & MILESTONES

Object.

Code Main Activity By Who TIME-FRAME

Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 6 Qtr 7 Qtr 8

Qtr 9

Qtr 10

Qtr 11

Qtr 12

Qtr 13

En

sure

str

on

g c

om

mu

nit

y g

oo

dw

ill

and

par

tner

ship

fo

r su

cces

s an

d

sust

ain

abili

ty

1 I.Community & Resource Mobilization

Jul - Sept

Oct - Dec

Jan - Mar

Apr -Jun

Jul - Sept

Oct - Dec

Jan - Mar

Apr -Jun

Jul - Sept

Oct - Dec

Jan - Mar

Apr -Jun

1.1

i. Three community meetings to discuss the development and implementation of the EOC development plans.

BoTC, BoTS, BoTT, CM,

x

1.2 ii. Strategic partnership meetings and events with the Kenya Wildlife Service Ngong station


x

1.3 iii. Resource mobilization meetings and events with the Kenya Wildlife Service Ngong station


x

1.4

iv. Partnership & Resource mobilization meetings and events with other relevant GoK ministries (ministry of Lands, and other relevant GoK departments and departments) and other resource partners.


x x

Incr

easi

ng

inst

itu

tio

nal

an

d p

erso

nn

el c

apac

ity

of

the

EO

CT

II.Institutional & Personnel Capacity Building

2.1

v. exchange learning trip on conservancy development and management for the 15 EOC trustees and 14 other key community opinion leaders to successful conservancies in Kenya


x

2.2

vi. Organize and conduct a strategic planning and resource mobilization workshop for 9 members of the board of trustees & 5 management staff

BoTC, BoTS, BoTT, CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO,

x

2.3

vii. Organize and conduct a conservancy management and protection workshop for 9 BOT members and 13 EOCT staff.

BoTC, BoTS, BoTT, CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO,

x x

2.4

viii. Organize an exchange learning trip to at least three established conservancies in Kenya and Tanzania for 5 management staff and 5 rangers. CM, CDO,

x x

Pro

vid

ing

alte

rnat

ive

livel

iho

od

sup

po

rt

syst

em t

hat

fost

ers

bio

-

div

ersi

ty

con

serv

atio

n

to t

he

pas

tora

list

EO

C

com

mu

nit

y III.Conservation & CBETEs Activities

3.1 ix. Identify qualified surveyor organization to undertake a professional survey of the EOCT coverage area

BoTC, BoTS, BoTT, CM, CDO,

x x

3.2 x. Conduct a professional survey and make maps of BoTC, BoTS, x x x


49

the EOCT conservation area BoTT, CM, CDO, CDR

3.3

xi. Identification of four main gates and four most suitable locations for sighting community-based eco-tourism enterprises (CBETEs).

BoT, CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO, CDR

x x

3.4 xii. Development of a detailed conservation & CBETEs strategy suited for the EOC area.

BoT, CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO,

x x x

3.5 xiii. Fund raising for conservancy seed funds BoT, CM, CDO, SEDO,

x x x x x x x x x x x x

3.6 xiv. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in conservation activities

BoT, CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO, CR, AA, CDR, VS


3.7 xv. Monitoring & evaluating the conservation & CBETEs activities

BoT, CM, CDR


3.8 xvi. Baseline Assessment for the establishment of CBETEs in the EOC area

CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO, CR, AA, CDR, VS

x x x

3.9 xvii. Establishment of two pilot community-based eco-tourism enterprises(CBETEs)

BoT CM, CDO, SEDO,

x x

3.1o

xviii. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in CBETEs activities

BoTC, BoTS, BoTT, CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO, CR, AA, CDR, VS


incr

ease

d a

cces

s to

qu

alit

y an

d a

deq

uat

e

leve

ls o

f ed

uca

tio

n t

o d

eser

vin

g b

rig

ht

child

ren

fro

m p

oo

r fa

mili

es in

th

e E

OC

com

mu

nit

y th

rou

gh

set

tin

g u

p a

n e

du

cati

on

fun

d

IV. Education Development

4.1 xix. Establishment of an education trust fund to support bright but needy children from the EOC community.

BoT, CM, EDO,

x x x x

4.2 xx. Fund raising for education fund seed funds

BoTC, BoTT, CM,SEDO, EDO,

x x x x x x x x

4.3 xxi. Establishment of the education trust fund investment account


x x

4.4 xxii. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in Education development activities


x x x x x x x x

4.5 xxiii. Identification, recruitment and profiling of scholarship recipients

CM, SEDO, EDO, AA, CDR, VS

x x x x x x x x


50

4.6 xxiv. Monitoring the education development activities BoT, CM, SEDO, EDO,

x x x x x x x x x

Pro

vid

e ad

equ

ate

hu

man

an

d a

dm

inis

trat

ive

reso

urc

es t

o e

nsu

re s

ucc

ess

and

su

stai

nab

ility

of

the

inte

gra

ted

3 y

ear

con

serv

atio

n, C

BE

TE

, an

d

edu

cati

on

dev

elo

pm

ent

pro

ject

V. HR & Admin

5.1 xxv. Identify a project support office in Kiserian town BoTS, CM, x

5.2 xxvi. Recruitment of 8 EOCT support staff including; 5 rangers, 2 office assistants and a driver.

BoTS, CM, CDO,

x x

5.3

xxvii. Recruitment of 5 EOCT senior staff including; 3 technical officers for; conservation, socio-economic development and education development, 1 office administrator and 1 accountant.


x x

5.4 xxviii. Identify names of game scouts and forward them to KWS for training.

CM, CDO, SEDO, EDO,

x

5.5 xxix. Initiating and follow up of registration process for the EOC area.

BoTC, BoTS, BoTT, CM, CDR,

x x x x

5.6 xxx. Running and maintenance of office & operational support services

CM, AA, CDR,


5.7 xxxi. HR management and Development BoTC, CM, AA,


KEY:

BoT = Board of Trustees, BoTC= BoT Chair, BoTS=BoT secretary, BoTT = BoT Treasure, CM = Conservancy Manager

CDO=conservation Development Officer, SEDO= socio-economic development officer EDO = education development officers

CR= Conservancy Ranger, AA= admin assistants , CDR= Conservancy driver, VS= Village scout


51

PROJECT MILESTONES Cod

e

Main Activity TIME-FRAME

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 LOP

Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr

3

Qtr

4

Qtr

5

Qtr

6

Qt

r 7

Qt

r 8

Qtr

9

Qt

r

10

Qt

r

11

Qt

r

12

1 I. Community & Resource Mobilization Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative Total

1.1 No. of Community Households signing the final agreement to form & develop

the EOC development plans. 0 300 500 600 700 800

80

0

80

0 800

80

0

80

0

80

0 800

1.2 Strategic partnership agreement signed with the Kenya Wildlife Service Ngong

station 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1.3 No of Project program Activities funded by KWS ( out of 5) 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

1.4 No. of Project program areas (out of 5)with committed funding/TA from relevant

GoK ministries & departments 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

II. Institutional & Personnel Capacity Building

2.1 No of EOC trustees and key community opinion leaders with clear understanding

and capacity in conservancy development and management 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

2.2 No of BoT and technical project staff with clear understanding and capacity to

use a strategic planning and resource mobilization tools. 0 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14

2.3 No of BoT and Technical project staff with adequate knowledge, skills &

attitudes necessary for effective conservancy management and protection 0 9 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22

2.4 No of project management and conservancy staff with adequate knowledge, skills

& attitudes necessary for effective conservancy management and protection 0 0 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

III. Conservation & CBETEs Activities

3.1 qualified surveyor organization to undertake survey of the EOCT area identified 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

3.2 completion of the survey of the EOCT conservation area 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

3.2

B professional survey maps of the EOCT conservation area produced 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

3.3 four conservancy access gates established 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

3.3

B four CBETE sites identified in the EOC area 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

3.4 Detailed conservation & CBETEs strategies for the EOC area. 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3.5 No. of Successful conservation fund raising events 3 6 9 12 13 14

15

16 17

18

19

20 20

3.5

B Overall interactive EOC website established and maintained - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

3.6 No. of EOC community members participating in & taking action in

conservation activities 120 240 500

1,00

0

1,50

0

2,50

0

3,5

00

4,0

00

4,00

0

4,0

00

4,0

00

4,0

00 4,000

3.7 CBETE Monitoring & evaluating visits and reports completed on time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12 9

3.8 completed CBETE baseline Assessment for EOC area 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

3.9 No. of community-based eco-tourism enterprises (CBETEs) established. 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3.1o No. of EOC community member groups participating in & taking action in

CBETEs activities - 1 2 4 8 16

24

32

40

40

40

40 40


52

IV. Education Development 0

4.1 Amount of education trust funds donated by partners out of targeted in Kshs

million 5 8 12

15

20

20

20

20

20 20

4.2 Amount of education trust funds donated by the community in Kshs million 0.5 0.80 1.2

1.5

2.0 2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0 2

4.3 Amount of Capital funds in Kshs millions invested in an education trust fund

account with a reputable investor(s) 5.5 8.80 13.2

16.

5

22 22

22

22

22 22

4.4 No of villages with trained and registered education development boards 4 8 16

24

32 40

40

40

40 40

4.5 No of scholarship recipients Identified per set criteria and benefiting from the

EOC- ETF. 50 50

50

50 100

10

0

10

0

10

0 100

4.6 Education development Monitoring & evaluating visits and reports completed

on time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 6

V. HR & Admin 0

5.1 project support offices established in Kiserian & at the EOC townships 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

5.2 completed recruitments of EOCT support staff including; 5 rangers, 2 office

assistants and a driver 5 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

5.3 Completed recruitment of 7 EOCT project staff including; the CDO, SEDO,

EDO, Admin Ass, Accountant 3 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

5.4 No of village conservation/game scouts identified and trained with support from

KWS. 25 25 25 25 25 25

25

25 25

25

25

25 25

5.5 Process of EOC registration as a conservation area with the ministry of Lands

and KWS completed in 4 stages. 1 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

5.6 Quarterly Programmatic report completed and submitted on time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12 9

5.6

B Quarterly Financial report completed and submitted on time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

9

5.7

Quarterly HRM report including; staff/casuals recruitment, orientation, training,

timesheets, performance, development and separations is completed and

submitted on time.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12 9


53

PROJECT BUDGET Code Main Activity

BUDGET TIME-FRAME %

Budget

(Kshs)

Budget

(USD) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 LOP

1 I. Community & Resource Mobilization Total

1.1

I. Three community meetings to discuss the development and implementation

of the EOC development plans. 202,500 2,813 2,813 0 0 2,813

1.2

ii. Strategic partnership meetings and events with the Kenya Wildlife Service

Ngong station 60,000 833 833 0 0 833

1.3

iii. Resource mobilization meetings and events with the Kenya Wildlife Service

Ngong station 60,000 833 833 0 0 833

1.4

iv. Partnership & Resource mobilization meetings and events with other

relevant GoK ministries (ministry of Lands, and other relevant GoK

departments and departments) and other resource partners.

120,000 1,667 1,666 0 0 1,666

442,500 6,146 6,145 0 0 6,145 1%

II. Institutional & Personnel Capacity Building 0 0 0 0

2.1

v. exchange learning trip on conservancy development and management for the

15 EOC trustees and 15 other key community opinion leaders to successful

conservancies in Kenya

1,590,000 22,083 22,083 0 0 22,083

2.2

vi. Organize and conduct a strategic planning and resource mobilization

workshop for 9 members of the board of trustees & 5 management staff 500,000 6,944 6,944 0 0 6,944

2.3

vii. Organize and conduct a conservancy management and protection workshop

for 9 BOT members and 13 EOCT staff. 775,000 10,764 10,764 0 0 10,764

2.4

viii. Organize an exchange learning trip to at least three established

conservancies in Kenya and Tanzania for 5 management staff and 5 rangers. 530,000 7,361 7,362 0 0 7,362

3,395,000 47,152 47,153 0 0 47,153 4%

III. Conservation & CBETEs Activities 0 0 0 0

3.1

ix. Identify qualified surveyor organization to undertake a professional survey

of the EOCT coverage area 75,000 1,042 1,042 0 0 1,042

3.2

x. Conduct a professional survey and make maps of the EOCT conservation

area 75,000 1,042 347 694 0 1,041

900,000 12,500 4,167 8334 0 12,501

3.3

xi. Identification of four main gates and four most suitable locations for

sighting community-based eco-tourism enterprises (CBETEs). 300,000 4,166 0 4,166 0 4,166

3.4

xii. Development of a detailed conservation & CBETEs strategy suited for the

EOC area. 280,000 3,889 1,296 2,592 0 3,888

3.5 xiii. Fund raising for conservancy seed funds 1,900,000 26,388 8,800 8,800 8,800 26,400

3.6

xiv. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in conservation

activities 3,620,000 50,279 16,760 16,760 16,760 50,280

3.7 xv. Monitoring & evaluating the conservation & CBETEs activities 720,000 10,000 3,336 3,336 3,336 10,008

3.8 xvi. Baseline Assessment for the establishment of CBETEs in the EOC area 585,000 8,125 5,418 2,709 0 8,127

3.9

xvii. Establishment of two pilot community-based eco-tourism

enterprises(CBETEs) 9,150,000 127,083 63,542 63,542 0 127,084

3.1o xviii. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in CBETEs activities 480,000 6,666 2,224 2,224 2,224 6,672


54

18,085,000 251,180 106,932 113,157 31,120 251,209 24%

IV. Education Development 0 0 0 0

4.1

xix. Establishment of an education trust fund to support bright but needy

children from the EOC community. 1,080,000 15,000 3,750 11,250 0 15,000

4.2

xx. Education Development Seed fund supporting 100 beneficiaries p.a. from

proceeds of 10% 20,000,000 277,778 0 277779 0 277,779

4.3

xxi. Establishment of the education trust fund investment account with a

reputable investor(s) 400,000 5,556 0 5556 0 5,556

4.4

xxii. Mobilization & engagement of the EOC community in Education

development activities 392,000 5,445 0 2,720 2,720 5,440

4.5 xxiii. Identification, recruitment and profiling of scholarship recipients 1,452,000 20,167 0 10,084 10,084 20,168

4.6 xxiv. Monitoring the education development activities 720,000 10,000 1,111 4,444 4,444 9,999

24,044,000 333,946 4,861 311,833 17,248 333,942 32%

V. HR & Admin 0

5.1 xxv. Identify a project support office in Kiserian town 60,000 833 833 0 0 833

5.2

xxvi. Recruitment of 8 EOCT support staff including; 5 rangers, 2 office

assistants and a driver. 105,000 1,458 1,458 0 0 1,458

5.3

xxvii. Recruitment of 5 EOCT senior staff including; 3 technical officers for;

conservation, socio-economic development and education development, 1

office administrator and 1 accountant.

70,000 972 972 0 0 972

5.4 xxviii. Identify names of game scouts and forward them to KWS for training. 35,000 486 486 0 0 486

5.5 xxix. Initiating and follow up of registration process for the EOC area. 175,000 2,431 1,214 1,214 0 2,428

5.6

xxx. Running and maintenance of office & operational support services:

Rent 540,000 7,500 2,500 2500 2500 7,500

Telephone, Internet & Email 540,000 7,500 2,500 2500 2500 7,500

Power, Water 180,000 2,500 832 832 832 2,496

Stationery 252,000 3,500 1,168 1168 1168 3,504

security 720,000 10,000 3,332 3332 3332 9,996

Office tea & Incidentals 360,000 5,000 1,668 1668 1668 5,004

renovations & maintenance 180,000 2,500 832 832 832 2,496

Transport hire 1,080,000 15,000 5,000 5000 5000 15,000

Banking charges 180,000 2,500 832 832 832 2,496

4,477,000 62,180 23,627 19,878 18,664 62,169 6%

0 0 0 0

5.7

xxxi. HR management and Development:- Staff and volunteer compensation

and allowances.- CM (1) 4,320,000 60,000 20,000 20000 20000 60,000

Staff and volunteer compensation and allowances - CDO, SEDO, EDO (3) 7,776,000 108,000 36,000 36000 36000 108,000

Staff and volunteer compensation and allowances. - CRS (5) 6,300,000 87,500 29,168 29168 29168 87,504

Staff and volunteer compensation and allowances. - Admin Staff (3) 3,780,000 52,500 17,500 17500 17500 52,500

Staff and volunteer compensation and allowances. - VS (25) 2,700,000 37,500 12,500 12500 12500 37,500

Statutory deductions 95,400 1,325 440 440 440 1,320

Staff benefits 377,280 5,240 1,748 1748 1748 5,244

25,348,680 352,065 117,356 117,356 117,356 352,068 33%


55

75,792,180 1,052,669 306,074 562,224 184,388 1,052,686

100

%

SUMMAR

Y

USD KSHS

Budget Year One 306,068

22,036,89

3

Budget Year Two 562,218

40,479,72

7

Budget

Year

Three 184,383

13,275,56

0

USD

1,052,66

9

75,792,18

0

Detailed Budget

For detailed calculations please see attached Excel worksheet that forms part and parcel of this proposal.

Empash Oloirienitoconservancy feasibility report 2011

56

APPENDICES

1. Board of trustees

No. Name Gender Age Occupation Village

2. EOC Area and key potential activities

No. Village Est.

Area

in

SQ

KM

Main

topographical

features

Main bio-

diversity

description

Key plant

secrecies

Key

animal

species

Key eco-

tourism

attractions

Potential

CBETEs

3. Socio-economic & Educational Needs

N

o.

Villa

ge

Est

.

Ar

ea

in

SQ

K

M

Est .No.

of

Househ

olds

Est.

Adult

Populat

ion

Est.

Childre

n

populat

ion

Averag

e Est.

livestoc

k

populat

ion per

househ

old

Ave.

Est.

income

from

livestoc

k

keepin

g per

househ

old.

Ave.

Est.

income

needs

per

househ

old for

basic

quality

of life.

Est.

Gap

s in

inco

me

level

s

Est.

Educati

onal

resource

needs

per

househo

ld

Est.

Gaps in

educati

onal

resourc

es

needed

per

househo

ld


57

4. Estimated income level Improvements as a result of the project 5

years later.

N

o.

Vill

age

Est.

Ave.

curren

t

house

hold

incom

e

needs

per

house

hold

for

basic

qualit

y of

life.

Est.

Ave.

curren

t

house

hold

incom

e from

livest

ock

rearin

g.

Est.

Ave.

curren

t

house

hold

incom

e from

other

curren

t

source

s

other

than

livest

ock

rearin

g

Total

Est.

Ave.

curren

t

house

hold

incom

e from

all

source

s

Est.

Ave.

Curre

nt

Surpl

us/

Gap

in

house

hold

incom

e

Est.

Ave.

futur

e

house

hold

incom

e

needs

per

house

hold

for

basic

qualit

y of

life.

Est.

Ave.

futur

e

house

hold

incom

e from

livest

ock

rearin

g.

Est.

Ave.

futur

e

incom

e per

house

hold

from

eco-

touris

m

gate

fees

shares

Est.

Ave.

futur

e

incom

e per

house

hold

from

CBET

Es

Total

Est.

Ave.

future

house

hold

incom

e from

all

source

s

Est.

Ave.

futur

e

Surpl

us/

Gap

in

house

hold

incom

e


58

Appendix 4 Existing management plan initiative

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN Land Ownership Individual land ownership is where individual pastoralists own the pieces of land from

the time of adjudication by the selected committee and the Ministry of Lands.

1.1 Name of Ranch EMPAASH OLORIENITO NATURE CONSERVANCY

Location of the Ranch Kajiado District is located at the southern tip of the Rift Valley province. The district is

situated between longitude 36 degrees 5 minutes and 37 degrees 55 minutes east and

between latitude 1 degree 10 minutes and 3 degrees 10 minutes south. It covers an area of

approximately 11,105 square kilometres.

The Ngong Hills forest is located at the north-eastern tip of Kajiado district in Ngong

division near Ngong town and about 25 kilometres from Nairobi. The ranch lies between

longitude 36 degrees 35 minutes and 36 degrees 40 minutes East and latitudes 1 degree 20

minutes and 1 degree 30 minutes south.

The hill forest is a dry mountain forest, which provides a bio-geographic link from the

larger mountains of central Kenya (Mount Kenya, Aberdare’s) to the larger mountains of

Northern Tanzania (Mount Meru, Kilimanjaro).


59

An interesting phenomenon that adds to the spectacular scenery of the landscape is the

steeply dipping and heavily fractured overturned quartzite hills caused by impact

deformation on the direction of the sunset.

Rift

Valley

1.3 Name(s) of Landowners

1. Lemaikai Matura

2. John Sintaloi Ole Letoya

3. Patu Matura

4. George Ngure Kariuki

5. Sampuan Ole Mokole

6. Timpatit Ole Mokole

7. Ernest Ntari Mantina

8. Joshua Nkaa Lemaikai

9. Moonka Ole Leshao

10. Peter Arrille Lemaikai


60

11. Solomon Kuntai Ole Patu

12. Sikiria Ole Keeya

13. Joseph Obiki Ole Patu

14. Stephen M.Kerea

15. Ole Kisai

16. Ole Sarinke

Land Tenure The land tenure system in the area and the adjudicated neighboring parcels are part of

the freehold tenure system per the establishment of the Registered Land Act R.L.A. cap

282 Law of Kenya.

The system has land registration and records at the district land registry in Kajiado for

the land adjudication which was done between 1978 and 1988.

2.1 Detailed Description of the Ranch

This eco-tourism route is not a hiking trail; rather it is a route that connects Nairobi

National Park and other conservation areas in the Mara-Amposeli tourism circuit

where tourists can stop to observe birds and wildlife. This trail will be instrumental

in bringing tourists to enjoy their stay outside of Nairobi city. The communities

within the buffer zone of the national park and the entire country will realize new

and greater economic benefit from this eco-tourism.

Participating landowners who designate part of their land to protection will be

compensated for their land use by a portion of the entrance fees paid by visiting

tourists. These landowners also have the opportunity to enroll their property into

donor sponsored incentives program, providing additional monetary incentives for

habitat protection.

The Empaash Oloirienito conservancy proposes that the sixteen land owners who have

decided to consolidate their parcels of land become a conservation area through the help

of Kenya Wildlife Service and managed as a backcountry area of the Nairobi National

Park. We feel that management by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has several

advantages including:

1. The area would be protected and preserved as part of the Nairobi National Park

and Ngong Hills animal buffer zone.

2. Stakeholder’s use of the area would be assured and the public would be able to

participate in the planning process.

3. The ranch would have extensive experience in managing public use in

backcountry environments including law enforcement, search and rescue and

emergency medical expertise.


61

4. The ranch would provide a full range of professional educational and interpretive

services which are essential to a safe and enjoyable experience in a rugged and

remote area.

5. The ranch will have an excellent resource management staff including a wildlife

biologist, physical scientist, geologist, botanist and archeologist. In addition, we

will have access to numerous KWS resource specialists and academic

institutions.

2.3 Archaeology, History and Culture

The area is rich in archaeological, historical and cultural assets. Evidence of human

activity dates back to the Stone Age and evidence still exists in caves, rock shelters, rock

engravings and rock art. Huts typical of both the Maasai culture exist with later huts

that represent a transition type which may be a combination of Maasai culture and

western civilization. Poorly preserved history of the Maasai people, as well as tools and

caves with animal bones and rock engravings, also are found here at Oloorgesalie pre-

historic sites just behind the Olooruka Hills. This makes the area important and unique

from an archaeological point of view and emphasizes the need for its proper

conservation.

Size of the Ranch After amalgamation or combination of the specific and individual lands, the resultant

area will be 4700 acres. If an adjacent 600 acres of government land on the top of the

hills were included, the total acreage would be 5300. en 500 mm to 800 mm per annum.

Topography The general topography of Kajiado North District (formerly Ngong division) is

characterised by open rolling land (Kaputei Plains), occasional volcanic hills (Ngong Hills,

Mt. Suswa), escarpments and valleys. The Ngong Hills, whose foot starts our ranch,

occupies the western part of the district, and is the area with the highest altitude in the

district of about 2460 metres above sea level. The Kaputei Plains, consisting mainly of the

open rolling land, covers the southern half of the division.

Ranch Activities The main economic activity of the Maasai families living in the area of Empaash

Oloirienito remains cattle raising in a semi-nomadic and semi-sedentary system.

However, with further sub-division of group ranches and allocation of parcels to

individual holdings and in the absence of proven alternative land use technologies, the

traditional livestock grazing patterns have been constrained and further reduced in size.

This has led to heavy degradation of the natural resources base, particularly the pastures,

soil and water.

Besides these bio-physical forms of land degradation, lack of experience and know how

among the communities to engage in benign management practices and technologies,

including coping mechanisms under the new land use systems, has led to growing

poverty, loss of livestock, rising unemployment and declining health. The women, old

people and the youth are shouldering the bulk of the burden. Alternative destructive


62

income generating activities such as charcoal burning became the order of the day and

poaching of wild animals for food also followed.

Ranch Map Attached copy of Registry Index Map (RIM)

Sectional piece of the ranchland to scale

Attached pictures of the scenery

Climate The Ranch lies mainly in the sub-humid and semi-arid climate with a small pocket of

humid climate around the Olesakut, Olooruka and Ngong Hills. As in the other parts of the

district, the rainfall pattern is bimodal with the short rains occurring between October and

December and the long rain between March and May.

The mean annual rainfall varies between 1200 mm around the Ngong Hills area to about

400 mm. The temperature varies between a mean maximum of 24oC and a mean minimum

of 11oC. The potential evaporation ranges between 500 mm to 800 mm per annum.

Wildlife Resources Vegetation There are two hills on the side of the ranch whose windward sides are facing the

southern part of the ranch. Two distinctive vegetation types are influenced by the

topography. On the eastern side (the windward side), the vegetation is mainly montane

type tending to dry forest due to the high temperatures. In the west (leeward side), the

vegetation type is mainly bushland.

Various factors have influenced the decline of vegetation that has resulted in pervasive

and serious land degradation. Vegetation is now reduced mostly to colonies of shrubs.

The main contributing factors are exploitation of vegetation for fuelwood, herbs and

building, as well as grazing on the hills, and overexploitation of water resources.

The area has capacity for a large variety of wildlife species. The interesting variety of

birds, smaller mammals and insects, such as ants and butterflies, are also important

indicators in terms of the capacity of the area to sustain a rich biodiversity.

Wild Animal Species and Numbers

Giraffes and leopards are a rare species in the ranch not easily seen due to the climatic

conditions at the moment. The animals currently seen on this ranch are:

white stripped gazelles with horns

Gerenuk gazelles

zebras

all types of venomous snakes

all types of small cats

hundreds of species of birds

giraffes on neighboring parcels


63

elands and many antelopes of this genre

Note: There are pockets of animal hideouts that may be hiding rare species. Sometimes

they are seen during animal headcounts on the ranch.

Movement and Distribution of Species The largest populations of white stripped zebras and brown gazelles have no major

movement as the neighboring parcels are of little interest to them due to previous

uncontrolled grazing on the ranch that has damaged the grasslands.

The cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards are fairly evenly distributed and can be seen only in

the evening or along the seasonal riverbanks.

Birds are all over the place.

Wild animals are within the ranch due to the fact that the only water source is the

seasonal water dam. When the ranch water dam dries, up the wildlife go for water to the

nearest dam 6 km away at night and then come back to the ranch.

Wildlife Utilization

Wildlife has no direct impact on human life, and therefore some people cannot see the

usefulness of wildlife in their daily life. In truth, the usefulness of wildlife to people and

environmental settings is considerable and is, in part, as follows:

1. Recreation / tourism. Environmental tourism holds the greatest long term

option for revenue creation. Not only are funds created, but the Maasai culture

and the spectacular ecosystems of undeveloped vistas populated with beautiful

plants and a remarkable array of magnificent wildlife are preserved and

perpetuated for future generations. With proper sensitive development (i.e.

situated where vast open view are not intruded upon with structures built in an

indigenous style), recreation / tourism holds the greatest potential.

2. Education. The area can be used as an environmentally sustainable teaching

example for local people and for international scientific study. Given the

extraordinary nature of the environment and global climate change

considerations, the establishment of ecological / scientific study centers could

provide additional income while preserving all aspects of the area.

3. Food. Meat from wildlife has been used for consumption since the primitive

period. Much wildlife is used as pets i.e. monkeys, birds, rabbits, etc. Meat

entrails from wildlife are still popular for people, i.e. elands, zebras, gazelles,

giraffes etc.

Economic. Income can be generated for conservancy from the animals

themselves: skins and parts can be sold for various uses; and birds, monkeys, etc.

can be sold for pets. However, this is less a desirable source of income because

it decimates the already dwindling animal populations.

4. Decoration. Wildlife parts such as horns and skins, etc. can be used for

decoration. Ideally, these parts would come from natural animal deaths, not

hunting or poaching.


64

5. Technical / scientific . Some animals, i.e. rats and monkeys, are used for

medical experiments. While this use of animals is controversial and likely

undesirable, it is a use of animals that occurs.

3.5 Wildlife investments Pastoralist Ostrich Husbandry

Experiences from ostrich husbandries show that the community is able to

produce birds cheaply for meat and breeding over a period of 25 to 30

months. The ostriches are very common in the conservation area and they

can be looked upon as an extra business to create revenues to the

conservancy. Every bird can be sold for between Ksh. 10,000 and 20,000

each (Ksh.77 = US $1). By contrast, a mature bird fetches Ksh. 75,000 in

the export market. Prevailing poor market structure and unfavorable

government policies on ostrich production remain serious constraints to the

development of this micro-enterprise.

Note: Introduction of such non-indigenous species requires careful planning,

control and regulation.

3.6 Wildlife Problems

Human predation is reported every week in this area

Domestic and wild animals compete for grazing and water consumption

3.7 Wildlife on Neighboring Properties Wildlife conservation on private lands is often a useful, if not essential, supplement to

conservation on public lands. Community and public incentives for such conservation

are outlined. Examples include conservation schemes for subsidizing provision of

wildlife corridors by private landholders in Kenya and insurance schemes to compensate

pastoralists for livestock damage caused by wildlife.

Animals from both sides of the conservancy have access to the property all the time.

This qualifies non-members of Empaash Oloirienito to earn small revenues from the

income of the conservancy.

Some believe that provision of private property rights to wildlife (i.e. the dedication of

open space to wildlife habitat conservation) on private land can provide a powerful

economic incentive for nature conservation because it enables property owners to

promote wildlife and its attributes while realizing economic benefit from the dedicated

land. When such marketing is profitable, private landholders will conserve wildlife and

its required habitat.

But land is not always most profitably used for the benefit of wildlife and the many

economic values of wildlife cannot be marketed. The mobility of some wildlife (their

fugitive nature) adds to the limitations of the private property approach. While some


65

species may be conserved by this approach, it is suboptimal as a single policy approach

to nature conservation. Nevertheless, such protection programs were experimented with

in neighboring Kipeto where landowners had the possibility of harvesting on their land a

quota of zebras and gazelles for commercial sale.

The long-term survival of some species depends on their ability to use private lands

without severe harassment, either for their migration or to supplement their available

resources, for example, the gravy zebras in Namunyak in Samburu. The program

explained herein is expected to provide an incentive to private landowners to appreciate

the presence of wild animals on their lands.

Management Strategy After consideration of all the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats and the

critical issues identified during consultation with stakeholders, the following key

strategies were identified:

Conservation Management

To sustainably manage the natural, cultural, historical and other heritage resources of

EOC in accordance with agreed policies, strategies and operational guidelines, so that

the unique, vulnerable, valuable and sensitive environmental assets of EOC would be

conserved.

Tourism Management

To optimally facilitate and manage tourism developments and operations in accordance

with agreed policies, objectives and strategies and within agreed tourism operating

guidelines for the enduring benefit of landowners, operators and the region.

Development Plan

To organise and manage developments within EOC in accordance with an accepted

zoning plan and development guidelines, cognisant of its conservation value and tourism

market potential, to ensure that its unique attributes are protected and the tourism

potentials are optimally utilised.

Institutional Framework

To develop an equitable institutional framework and constitution that together with the

EOC Strategic Plan will provide the majority of landowners with the necessary

mechanisms and security to willingly join the Empaash Oloirienito Conservancy.

Internal Communications

To implement a communications strategy that will adequately and effectively provide all

landowners and operators inside EOC with relevant information, to the extent that they

will appreciate the value of joining EOC and support its policies, objectives, strategies

and activities.

Marketing and Interpretation

To market and interpret EOC, its unique attributes and its products to identified target

markets, so that EOC could be recognised amongst all the identified markets and could


66

be optimally utilised.

Socio-economic Development

To contribute towards the socio-economic development of the region and its recognised

stakeholders, by ensuring that local spin-offs and appropriate economic empowerment is

facilitated.

Funding

To procure and manage appropriate financial resources that is necessary to efficiently

and effectively implement the strategies of EOC

Objectives

Maintain biological connectivity between the Hells Gate, Kidong ranch,

Mt. Suswa, Mosiro, Shompole, and Olkiramatian group ranches and

Nairobi National Park and other protected areas in Kenya

Create a buffer zone of Nairobi National Park

Conserve habitat to protect biodiversity

Promote sustainable development in local communities of the Olooruka

and Olesakut ecosystems

Vision

By achieving its objectives, EOC becomes an area with the following characteristics:

A single, functional, self-sustainable and professionally managed land unit

managed along the principles of a conservancy with co-operation amongst all the

different stakeholders

An internationally recognized site of scientific significance and study

The unique geology, biodiversity, biophysical processes, non-renewable

resources and landscapes and the cultural heritage of EOC are well conserved

through a consistently applied adaptive management process founded on up-to-

date scientific knowledge and state of the art technology and systems

Internationally recognized as a uniquely interpreted and excitingly informative

destination with high enjoyment, educational, cultural and scientific value

Nationally recognized as an adventure destination with diverse products

Regionally recognized as an important socio-economic contributor

The unique tourism and educational potential of the EOC is optimally developed

and utilized whilst the natural experience is not unduly impaired and the

conservation values are not compromised

The visitor facilities and services meet international standards

Development and management is undertaken according to mutually beneficial


67

and synergistic relationships between landowners, operators and their employees

that balance human and environmental needs of the areas

Land ownership and benefits from EOC are shared equitably

Development and management is facilitated and controlled in accordance with a

well-developed Strategic Plan and Constitution

EOC is established as an internationally renowned field centre for geological

research -particularly Impact Structure research

An extension service and support mechanism is in place to assist landowners and

operators within EOC to meet internationally accepted environmental,

conservation and tourism standards of operation

EOC is financially self-sustaining through a combination of revenue sources

such as tourism revenues, grants, donor funding, entrance fees, member

contributions, levies, wildlife user rights, concession fees, sale of renewable

natural resources if appropriate to the charter and trading.

As the population and development pressures increase on this near city location, we

commit to acquire and preserve land and buffer zones to sustain natural habitat and

recreational, scenic, traditional cultural and educational uses for present and future

generations.

Proposed Wildlife Users Consumptive Use of Wildlife Resources

While it is currently common to permit the consumptive use of natural resources in the

EOC areas, in the future this would occur only under certain circumstances, especially

as relates to wildlife. Consumptive uses will be permitted in EOC, provided that:

It is necessary for achieving the primary ecological objective; and/or

it is sustainable and provides meaningful revenue to EOC and/or benefits to the

relevant stakeholders; and

it does not compromise the primary and secondary ecological management

objectives; and

It does not compromise the values and obligations outlined in the above sections.

Wildlife Management Capabilities Human Resources/ Management Capacity

A conservation management unit capable of providing appropriate extension services

and assistance to landowners, operators and their staff regarding law enforcement,

monitoring, resource management and utilization and the trust’s code of conduct will be

in place.


68

Equipment and facilities

To be determined as the project develops further.

Marketing Background

Beyond the international interest in the remarkable and diverse wildlife of the area, the

unique selling point of EOC is its geology. The combination of hills, cliffs and adulating

plains with diverse landscapes and scenery, attractive topography and rich cultural

history makes for a unique special interest and adventure destination close and

accessible to the major Gauteng markets.

The growing range of tourism products are reasonably well patronised. However, it is

believed that occupancies could be improved through joint marketing under a single

branding, if products were aligned with markets that offered the best potential and if

interpretation and signage were improved.

The interesting geology, archaeology and mining history makes for excellent

interpretation opportunities. Listing as a World Heritage Site will add significant

prominence and has great marketing value.

The wide range of attractions and activities has the potential of adding significant value

if it could be integrated into a variety of special interest packages, routes and tours. It is

felt that the area is not known in the market and that it will not be understood or valued

without proper interpretation and marketing.

A particular challenge is to interpret and market EOC’s unique attributes, which has to

be its geology and adventure attributes, to appropriate markets.

Vision

The vision is for EOC to grow as a unique and well-known tourism destination. The

goal is to be recognized worldwide for its well-designed and established interpretation

facilities that specifically suit the identified target markets and best portray the

internationally significant geological phenomenon of the Empaash Oloirienito impact

structure and the rich cultural heritage of the area.

Objectives

The primary objective of marketing and interpretation is to establish a product and brand

that will appeal to the educational, scientific, leisure, corporate, sports and adventure

markets and thus stimulate growth within the target tourism markets.

Policy

As a general principle, those that stand to benefit from the marketing of the particular

product must carry the costs associated with such marketing. However, no marketing of

the contents thereof is permitted that conflicts with the operations, policy or


69

management guidelines of EOC.

The following principles have to be adhered to:

One brand and message to be used in all marketing, icons, collateral products, communication, websites, and product range, etc.

The brand and message must reflect the area’s unique features and should also allow for linkages with diverse current and potential products in the area

The brand name and logo and the marketing message must be a registered trademark which would enforce joint marketing initiatives between the management body and product owners in the area

Product owners should be legal and comply with the rules and regulations determined by management (which may include membership fees, product standards, concession rights, local laws/ordinances, etc.) before they are allowed to carry the brand name associated with the area

Operational Guidelines

Branding

A strong single brand which can easily work with marketing collateral and products

should be used by all. In conjunction with branding, a product range of curios and

souvenirs that could be sold to the market by using local skills should be developed.

Information Centers

Information Points are key to the success of the Empaash Oloirienito Conservancy. A

visitor information and interpretation centre should be developed in either KWS or ACC

offices. A smaller Field Information Centre should be established at Saikeri shopping

centre for visiting scientists in collaboration with and backing from and participation by

any research institution.

Range of Products

A wide range of tourism products, especially local arts and crafts, which will decrease

the negative effect of seasonality in the area should be available. New focus areas are

the education and scientific markets.

Market Focus

Capitalize on the proximity of major markets and as markets grow, extend on existing

themes. Make use of existing events in the region such as marathon and motorbike

racing to promote appropriate uses of the area. Introduce aerial activities that will

enable one to better appreciate the extent of the Empaash Oloirienito Impact Structure,

such as balloon rides or gliding over the “EMPAASH”, as well as guided 4x4 rides,

hiking trails and general or specialized tours through the area, but only to the extent that

no ecological degradation is caused.

Move away from big game reserves as the primary idea and use the existing unique


70

geological, hill cliffs-frontage and adventure potentials as selling features of the area to

create new and different experiences that would attract tourists and researchers, etc.

Product Focus

Develop local tour operators who can coordinate guided visits to the variety of

attractions for general and special interest markets. Develop sufficient day visitor

facilities.

Sufficient interpretation facilities should be developed that will suit the identified

markets in order to meet the existing level of demand and to stimulate additional

interest. Aspects that need proper interpretation include the area’s unique geology,

biodiversity and biotic resources, biophysical processes, unique landscape, cultural

heritage features and history.

Respective Marketing Roles

There are four components of marketing:

The selling of the unique features of EOC and the concept of management which

includes the philosophies and policies of EOC. This is the responsibility of

management.

The marketing of individual products. This will be undertaken by the individual

product owners.

The marketing of EOC as a tourism destination. Management will negotiate joint

marketing efforts between product owners and ensure that government agencies

include EOC in relevant regional, national and international marketing campaigns.

Joint Marketing

There may be opportunities for EOC and the individual product owners to market EOC

jointly. Where this is appropriate, the parties should work together. Close liaison

between the parties should be encouraged.

Screening of Marketing Material

All marketing material concerning EOC should be screened by management to ensure

that a consistent image of the destination, its unique features and a correct message

relating to its management are portrayed.


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feasibility assessment for empash oloirienito conservancy 25112011

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