Program Focus

The long-term conservation of wildlife in Kenya’s northern rangelands is inextricably linked to the fate of the local pastoralist communities. Yet these communities are politically and economically marginalised, and opportunities for economic growth have been hindered by insecurity and long-standing ethnic rivalries in the region. This program aims to connect these different interest groups to collectively develop strong community-led institutions as a foundation for wildlife conservation, community development and sustainable use of the area’s natural resources.

The Program Plan

Specific objectives of the Northern Rangelands Trust are to:

Ensure the conservation, management and sustainable use of the natural resources within the Trust Area
Promote and develop tourism and all other environmentally sustainable income-generating programs within the Trust Area
Promote culture, education and sports of the residents of the Trust Area
Promote better health of the residents of the Trust Area through the provision of better health services and facilities
Alleviate poverty of the inhabitants of the Trust Area through improved social services, provision of employment and establishment of community-based enterprises
Promote and support trusts, corporations, non-government organisations and other charitable organisations with similar objects to those of the Trust

Zoos Victoria's Role

Zoos Victoria's partnership with the Trust focuses on the 45,000ha Melako Conservancy. This is the most northerly Conservancy, established in 2004 at the request of the Rendille community. The overall goals of the Melako Conservancy are to develop a successful community conservation initiative to conserve and increase viable populations of Grevy's Zebra and other wildlife and to enhance the capacity of local Rendille communities to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Grevy's Zebra is the most threatened of the world's zebras and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. More than 93% of the remaining wild population (between 1,600 and 2,200 individuals) occurs on Trust land, with 9% on the Melako Conservancy.

This is the most recent addition to the programs supported by Zoos Victoria and we are finalising the details of our support with the Trust. From 2008 we will be the Melako Conservancy's major supporter and important developments will be reported as they arise.