Borderland Conservation Initiative: Community Workshop Report

Conserving Elephants in the Tanzania – Kenya Community Stakeholders Workshop in Namanga

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10/05/2012

Introduction

The participants were welcomed to the meeting and to Kenya, this was followed by an

introduction session. John Kamanga who was the point person in the Arusha meeting to

call the communities to this workshop gave a brief background on how the meeting came

about from the previous meeting held in Arusha. Broadly the meeting looked at issues

elephant conservation in Kenya – Tanzania border lands and emphasized on the need to

work together in aspect like research, community development and conservation and

The action plan we are going to develop as the output of this workshop will enable us

come up with proposal on how best to work together to promote elephant conservation in

the trans-boundary region of Kenya and Tanzania.

The community discussions during the Arusha meeting looked into how to strengthen the

capacity of communities to protect elephants, avert and reduce human-wildlife conflict

and raise benefits from the use of wildlife. Top priority was given to mobilizing

communities in the key elephant pathways, setting up security networks, raising

awareness, encouraging partnerships, sharing information, exchanging know-how and

developing integrated work plans. The South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO)

was elected to organize cross-border meetings as soon as possible. The communities,

with the assistance of the government wildlife agencies and conservation organizations,

will prepare conservation plans and identify the support they need to implement them.

From the discussions some key recommendations were brought forward to initiate a

platform that convenes the community to:

1. Identify good models within the community related to conservation in the trans-

border region

2. Develop an inventory of organizations working in the region

3. Share information

4. Exchange learning between communities

5. Develop a one year work plan for collaborative work

In line with the above, SORALO was requested by the community groups in the

workshop to facilitate the first meeting of the various groups in the two countries within

one month.

Action plan

1. Reconnaissance visit (ACC/SORALO) to Lake Natron and the Magadi area of

Tanzania

Objective of the visit

- Ground assessment of existing projects and community groups

engaged in conservation

- Understanding of the issues related to community benefits

- Meeting with the relevant Government institutions in the Longindo

District

2. Workshop


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Objectives

- Mapping of institutions involved in conservation work in the trans-

border region

- Development of a SWOT analysis on the current conservation

efforts

- Identify gaps that need to be filled for effective conservation of

elephants

- Development of a one year activity plan and budget

Workshop Agenda

The genesis of the cross border elephant conservation initiative

Review of the workshop objectives;

1. Mapping institutions in involved in trans-boundary region

2. SWOT analysis on current conservation issues

3. Gaps in conservation

4. Development of an activity plan for two years

Why elephants for conservation

Key elephants corridors

An interaction session on the meeting Agenda: clarifications

why elephant conservation?

1. Elephant is a transboundary resource

2. There should be a symbiotic relationship (human and elephant depending on each

other)

3. Elephant is an indicator of ecosystem health

What areas do we need to collaborate on?

How does the project affects the community in the areas of interest both positively and

negatively?

Pastoralists communities needs to be considered for reasons of being in balanced

Is climate change affecting the movement or way of life for the elephant

Let’s think big and act locally, let’s think on what is realistic and achievable

Expectations of the Workshop participants

Regular schedule/program for partner between communities from both countries

Elephants in both countries need to be conservation and protected

How collaboration between Kenya and Tzs in conservation can improve livelihoods

for the pastoralists communities

Strategies put in place to address elephant – human conflicts

Best approach and strategies for conserving transboundary resource

Reduce elephant poaching through networking and collaboration

Involving/sensitization of both government and communities in conservation


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Community awareness, education and capacity building in protecting elephant

Sharing of conservation experiences by both country communities in conservation

and development

Elephant conservation and protection to bring benefits to the communities

Create awareness internationally to bring benefits to the communities

Making the communities understand that elephant in their natural resource

Understand both government policies regarding conservation

Identify key areas that need immediate action in conservation matters

Need to consider lions conservation as a transboundary resource

Engage governments to change policies and ensure that elephants are owned locally

by the communities

Develop grass banks on both area

Advocate for transboundary polices by both countries

Engage government to influence and give technical and financial support on

elephant conservation

Experience sharing in conservation by both countries (two people from each side)

Amboseli (Koikai)

Is the mother of community conservation in Kenya. Several research organizations have

been in the area since long. Amboseli is the leading in the most organized community

game scouts. Amboseli is one of the most conservation areas that have come up with

ecosystem management plan. The management plan in Amboseli is being implemented

by all the conservation partners and being coordinated by Amboseli Ecosystem Trust.

South Rift (Michael)

SORALO as an organization is five years old. As body its coordinating about fifteen

group ranches with a purpose of community conservation and tourisn enterprises by

communities. The focal areas; Susua, shombole, Mailua, Magadi hot spring and Olkisalie

conservancies, SORALO initiated conservation areas as well as putting up tourism

conservation in place e.g. shompole lodge and sambu lodge in Olkiramatian. The

community benefits include; employment of scouts and lodges staff, sale of bead works,

conservation levy among others.

Tz – Ujamaa resource team

Resources are spread naturally and therefore they need to be conserved. We believe in

sustainable conservation for communities there in. we believe in empowering this

communities to have the capacity to conserve and benefit. About 200 jobs opportunities

have been experienced which have resulted in the reduction of lion hunting by the

traditional Maasai morans since they now see as resource. In some occasions

conservation efforts conflicts with government policies thus making conservation work

more difficult. Focal areas: Ngorongoro, Pinyinyi, mbulu and miatu.

CRT believe that for any conservation efforts it have to affect positively to the

livelihoods of the community around


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Enduimet (WMA) sinya by Cllr.

In general, what we have started is very good but very difficult, thus we need to soldier

on since its at some point against politicians will. Government policies are against

conservation and communities. Communities will are very good and even their by- laws

towards conserving natural resources.

We advocate that, all the natural resources to be under communities and all the benefits

What are the benefits of collaborations?

Over 200 students going to school through scholarship

Chasing poachers across borders

Species abundance is being realized

Communication through Radio channel being shared

Over 200 employment opportunities

What we are doing today is very important that we disagree with poaching/hunting,

sensitizing the community at our own level. We need to involvement in both sides to stop

hunting tourism and opt for game viewing tourism instead of killings. WMAs’ bill was

just past last year which is a big steps though there is still some elements that not

favouring.

Why collaboration?

It will bring a platform where by the government can be engage and networking to

influence the change of policies

An exchange visit to Lale’enok resource centre, sambu and Olkiramatian if possible from

the other side, it can as well be replicated on the side

Kenyas conservation policies favours conservation efforts more than those of Tzs which

they tend to favour wildlife than people and their livestock.

Groups Presentations on collaborating partners

Kenya side

AET(Amboseli Ecosystem Trust) – which is mandated to implement the Amboseli

ecosystem management plan objectives

SORALO(south rift association of land owner) – with a mandate of linking land owner

with land opportunities

Tzs side

Enduimet (Wildlife Management Areas) – community conservation

IPI (Ilkisongo pastrolists initiative) base in lake Natron – community conservation and

development

LCDO(Longido community development organization) base in Longido – Participatory

forest management

PWC (pastrol women council) – gender empowerment in conservation

TNRF (Tanzania natural resource forum) – natural resources governance3


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A SKECT MAP SHOWING ELEPHANT USE AREAS ALONG THE BORDER

Hot spot areas

TZs

1. Rombo

2. Kitenden

3. Sinya/Kiserian/Ketumpeiru

4. Gilai

5. Metali (c)

6. Mundarara

Kenya

1. Rombo

2. Kitenden

3. Kuku

4. Torosei

5. Meto

6. Ngurman

7. Mosiro

8. Emotoroki

9. Maparasha

GAPS IN CONSERVATION

Lack of community education and awareness on the importance of elephant

protection in the ecosystem

Lack of an efficient monitoring system for elephant in the cross border

Habitat encroachment and blockage of migratory corridors

Lack of ownership and negative attitude by communities towards wildlife

Lack of a plat form for conserving elephants/ lack of coordination on the conservation

effort

Lack of benefits/ benefit sharing mechanism/plan

Policies/laws related to transboundary elephant conservation

Lack of adequate information on elephant conservation across border

Insecurity – poor coordination in elephant security

Lack of sustained finances to keep the conservation efforts on going or continuity

Lack of commitment by the relevant authorities

Conservation not in the lands of the communities

Tourism being the main driver in conservation, other e.g. sport tourism and livestock

improvement

Handling human – elephant conservation


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Priority activities areas in conserving elephant along the border

1. Community capacity building e.g. horizontal learning, livelihoods support for benefit

sharing and facilitation of information sharing among partners (formation of a task

force)

2. Establishment/support of community conservation areas e.g. tourism enterprises

3. Policy harmonization at all levels

4. Enhancing elephant security e.g. communication by scouts, radio network and joint

training

5. Information generation, documentation and sharing among partners

The meeting discussed in length on how does the community livelihoods aspect in the

areas of interest be well captured. The meeting agreed that lets put the partnership plat

form then in year two we think of which areas of livelihoods need to be supported.

Sub activities in each priority areas (Group 2)

Community capacity building

1. Creating awareness on elephants conservation through;

- Exchange visit/horizontal learning trips

- Training workshop on community committee, school base programs, community

base training

- Formation of a task force – that is cross border

2. Stakeholders capacity building; NGOs, governments, private sector, community

groups

Establishment/support community conservation areas

- Establishment new conservation areas; identify areas and do a feasibility study,

securing conservancy

- Support existing conservation areas; identify social enterprises, identify/recruit

investors/staff, income generation and proposal writing to donors and investors

Policy harmonization

- Proposed task force to engage E.A.C secretariat and conservation agencies

(government level)

Enhancing elephant security and conservation

- Recruitment of community rangers and scouts

- Mapping human – elephant conflict hotspots

- Training and equipping the community scouts

- Cross – border collaboration – immediate communities

Information generation, documentation and information dissemination

- Establish resource centre’s

- Publishing of news letters

Sub activities in each priority areas (Group 1)

Community capacity building

A) Training/sensitization of community on policies and laws governing wildlife


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B) Exposure tours/ enhance partnership through neighbourhood meeting

Establishment/support community conservation areas

A) To identify and establish conservation areas within the core areas

- TZ lake natron/Longido

- Kenya mailua/ marapash, oldonyo ork, meto, torosei and jitenden

B) Facilitateformation of institutions required

C) Registration oof conservation areas

Supporting existing conservation work;

Kenya; Rombo, kitirua, eselenkei, need assessment, shompole, Olkiramatian, and suswa

Tzs; Enduimet WMA

- Develop a new tourism circuit/product

- Marketing the tourism products

- Develop a joint tourism management

Policy harmonization

Lobby and advocate for positive policies that favours people and conservation investor

Enhancing elephant security and conservation

- Recruitment of scouts in new conservancies/WMAs

- Training of scouts

- Formalize a joint trans-boundary

- Scout operations and patrols

- Establishment of a joint community/ transport networking (mv radio

communication

- Information generation documentation and sharing

Information generation, documentation and dissemination

- Formation of a joint cross border secretariat

- Document good practices and learning

- Establishment a resourc3e centre to store the information

Sharing

- Workshop, meeting, newsletters, pump lets and audio – visual

- Website and exchange visits


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Action Plan

Objectives Activity Output Time

Frame

Community

capacity

building

- Training/sensitization of

community on policies and

laws governing wildlife

- Exposure tours/ enhance

partnership through

neighborhood meeting

- Informed

communities on

policies and laws

regarding cross

border conservation

- Enhanced

partnership

- Communities aware

of possible projects

related to

wildlife(income

generation)

Establishment/s

upport

community

conservation

areas

- Establishment of conservation

areas

a) Feasibility study on the

proposed new

conservation areas (2 per

country)

b) Secure the area and

develop MOUs with the

relevant

communities/authority

- Support existing conservation

a) Identify key social

enterprises/investors

b) Tourism circuits and

marketing

c) Develop management

plans

- Feasibility report

- MOUs

- Mapped

conservancies

- Key enterprises

identified

- Master plan/tourism

- Joint management

plans in place

Policy

harmonization

- Formation of task force

- Policy analysis

- Advocacy at all levels

- Task force in place

- Distilled policy

briefs related to

trans-boundary

conservations

- Relevant

stakeholders on

policy issues

Enhancing

elephant

security and

- Support community game

scout

a) Bi-annual cross-border

- 2 meeting per year


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conservation

scouts meeting

b) Joint operations and

patrols

c) Establishment of a

centralized radio

network

d) Training and

equipping scouts

e) Training on human

wildlife conflict

mitigation strategies

- Patrol schedule

- Centralized and

functional radio

system

- Trainings

Information

generation,

documentation

and

dissemination

- Support information centres’

- Undertake applied studies on

effective strategies on trans

boundary elephant

conservation

- Basic communities

monitoring system developed

- Develop effective

communication strategies

- Support regular

community meeting

for information

dissemination

- Study report

- Monitoring systems

developed

- Communication

strategy in place

A.O.B

Lion conservation also needs to be seen as a trans-boundary resource.

Closing Remarks

The theme of the workshop is very good in that elephant have to be protected from many

enemies

The workshop objectives were well thought out

The workshop time was a bit short and congested, next time to be held on TZz side for

exposure

Congrats to Kamanga quick organization of the workshop since is short time the Arusha

workshop that proposed the collaboration between the two countries

We need to make more representation next time especially politicians

The agenda need to be spearheaded in regardless of funding since we are the owner of the

problems


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CROSS BORDER ELEPHANT CONSERVATION PROGRAMME

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ORGANIZATIONS

1. Koikai Oloitipitip AET/ATGRCA

2. Sabore Keen Molloimet Diwani

3. David Maitumo ACC

4. Jackson Mwato ACC

5. Benson Leyian AET

6. Paul S. Meliara SORALO

7. Martha Ntoipo LCDO – Longido

8. Pashia Deresa Diwani

9. Bernard Tulito ATGA

10. Lemomo Laampala Diwani

11. Mike Mokoro I.P.I lake Natron

12. Meleck Laizer I.P.I Lake Natron

13. Jacob Korongi P.W.C

14. Melubo Mpapa SORALO

15. Michael Lenaimadu SORALO

16. Jamboi Baramayegu UCRT

17. Daniel Ouma TNRF

18. John Kamanga SORALO

19. Sipitiek Johnson ACC

20. Daniel Leturesh AET

21. Jopha Kakanyi PWC

Documents

Borderland Conservation Initiative: Community Workshop Report