Predator proof bomas have helped mitigate human wildlife conflict
In every ecosystem shared by wildlife, people and livestock, there must arise conflict. To mitigate this, Pardamat Conservancy sought funding to acquire predator-proof bomas. These were given to landowners based on their location as there are areas that are territories for predators while others are not. Attack of livestock by predators was another basis. A number of families of the landowners now have these but we would want to provide more.
Elephant Poaching has gone down to zero
Pardamat Conservancy was contagious for elephant poaching. However, this is a gone case. In 2019 for example, only two elephants died within Pardamat Conservancy and both deaths were due to natural causes.
Charcoal burning has decreased tremendously
Owing to land subdivision people moved to their individual parcels everywhere including on the hill. To reduce the density of the bush they invited outsiders to burn charcoal and they shared the money that accrued. With the recruitment of the trained PCA rangers, this hurdle was tackled. In November for example, they captured one hundred and fifty bags that were on transit to Kisumu.
Logging Has Reduced
Cutting of wood on the Pardamat hill for fencing was also a big deal at PCA. The rangers have however stepped in to curb this. Logging is illegal according to the laws of Kenya so that people are not permitted to cut down wood even on their own land.
When the rangers came in and took to task to stop logging, the culprits started transporting wood at wee hours. The security team has countered this by working at such hours.
Fences Have Pulled Down
So far 22 fences have come down. It has taken great effort to convince the local community that benefits from conservation can match that from livestock keeping or even supersede. This is because beside the monthly lease fee, we offer bursary to the children of landowners and consolation to families whose livestock has been attacked and injured or killed by predators.
Building Of The WTC and The Researchers’ Camp
The Koyiaki Guiding School was started in 2005. It is a facility for training local Maasai high school graduates to tour guides. It offers a one-year tour guiding certificate course.
Its donors and the board of management proposed that it is moved to a more strategic location, and expanded as well as advanced. The Endoinyo Erinka community donated a 50-acre plot of land for its relocation.
Basecamp Explorer Foundation secured a grant from the Norwegian Development Agency and family philanthropy to facilitate this.
Construction is due in the course of 2020 and shall last a year. The school will expand and advance to a wildlife and tourism college which will offer diverse diploma courses. The school shall have a researchers’ wing which will be occupied by volunteers, research professors and researchers from all over the world.
Land Leased
Pardamat covers an area of about 64000 acres. As of January 2019, we have brought 13000 acres under conservation. We aspire to benefit 850 households of which about 200 are getting the monthly lease fee.
The PCA conservation model is one that furthers integration whereby there are two categories of landowners. Those on full lease and others on half lease. The former means the landowner does not reside on his land, whereas the latter means he/she resides on the land with their livestock. The lease amount depends on the category one falls under.
The model fosters an appreciation of wildlife by the local community because they are paid for sharing their land with wildlife.
Registered Leases
A lease is only a complete legal document when it has been registered. In the year 2019 our Community Liaison Officer forwarded over one hundred leases of which eighty-two have been registered.
