Fencing
It is a menace in the Mara ecosystem at large. The origin is needed for grass banks to fatten cows and as an alternative during the drought season. The value of wildlife and the benefits that accrue are to be weighed against those from livestock. The Maasai, a pastoralist community have not diversified their economic activities much. Cows are for subsistence, commercial purposes and investment. With land subdivision and formation of conservancies, and thus restricted grazing, the quick alternative was fencing to secure grass for tough times.
Nevertheless, we have been able to convince the local community to pull down fences so that wildlife and livestock can roam freely. So far twenty-two fences have come down. Pulling down fences is a very expensive exercise. It requires a lot of money. The funds available for this exercise are limited. It is also prospectively not sustainable. We shall appreciate monetary support to realize the dream of opening up migratory corridors that connect us to other conservancies and the game reserve.
Dependency on donor funding
Pardamat conservancy opened offices in January 2016. It has no tourist resorts to bring in income. Therefore, it depends solely on donor funding to run all its operations, which range from paying leases to salaries and vehicles maintenance.
This is however not sustainable as grants are for a definite period. They may not be available upon depletion. Nevertheless, four resorts have been proposed. Two on the east and two on the west. A cattle enterprise for the conservancy has also picked up.
We need support with funds before we become self-sustaining. This translates to fundraising for a grant to support lease payment. Investment in PCA in the form of tourist facilities would go a long way in furthering independence and so would other income-generating projects which are conservation-friendly.
Limited human resource
The PCA security team is made up of twenty-one rangers, against 64000 acres of land. They are based in five permanent and one temporary station. The area for patrol is vast and it requires a commensurate number of rangers to have every part of PCA reached.
We shall appreciate funds to recruit more rangers and offer regular refresher training.
Land degradation and soil erosion
In the Maasai community cows are a source of wealth and pride. The more you have the wealthier and more respected you are. In Pardamat there are more cows than the land can sustain. This has resulted in overgrazing and creation of pathways that remain bare hence land degradation and soil erosion. Clearing of the bush for settlement especially around the hillside is another contributing factor. One of the main consequences of this is a decrease in wildlife numbers owing to habitat and fodder loss.
Bringing land under conservation
The projected PCA area is 64000 acres whereas at the moment we have only secured 10300 acres. One of the main objectives in establishing PCA was to open up critical migratory corridors and dispersal areas.
However, we have only managed to bring down 22 fences since inception due to a lack of willingness and motivation and unequal value for cows versus wildlife. The argument is that PCA is a settlement area for most people whose land is under conservation in Naboisho, Olare Motorogi and Mara North. On erecting fences, the rationale is grass banks for livestock which come in handy in the dry season.
Human wildlife conflict
PCA is shared between humans, livestock and wildlife. There is therefore stiff competition for natural resources. HWC is common and the most vulnerable victims are goats and sheep. Predators including lions, hyenas and leopards top the list. We also have cases of elephants breaking into fenced areas and killing livestock. HWC is prevalent along migratory corridors which in this regard we call hotspots. They include; Rekero, Pardamat hills, Ilchorroi, Endoinyo Erinka, Mbitin and Enoosidan.
Settlement
PCA is highly settled. Therefore, wild animals are not able to move freely. They are also exposed to many dangers such as injury or death when they force their way inside fences, some of which are electric.
There is high competition for natural resources as land is shared between wildlife, humans and their livestock, and since they are least in the priority they tend to suffer more. Due to blockage of critical migratory corridors, they less access other wildlife habitats especially during dry spells.