• Samburu Community
• About KARE
• Our Vision
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Biodiversity Project

CONSERVATION with the PRESERVATION of INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Our projects involve indigenous communities focus on capacity building and awareness-raising, policy and institutional development, sustainable economic opportunities, and practical and innovative conservation actions in the protected areas and buffer zones, as well as in the larger production landscape.

The Lion Conservation Fund’s (LCF) Indigenous and Community Biodiversity Conservation Project in northern Kenya promotes sustainable protection and use of biodiversity resources by the indigenous communities in Lerata and Lereshoro in the Samburu District. The project is establishing and strengthening community conservation areas on lands with high biodiversity value that are communally owned by indigenous communities. It is also strengthening the capacity of state agency staff to promote community conservation and establish biological corridors.

KARE's Biodiversity Project seeks to conserve the unique and globally significant biological and cultural resources in one of the most remote corners of the globe. The project has linked LCF-supported biodiversity conservation initiatives with the preservation of indigenous culture and provision of basic human needs. The project has focused on improving rangeland management, restoring cultural heritage, and developing local sustainable tourism to conserve the unique mountain biodiversity of O’Lolokwe, one of Kenya’s 3 sacred mountains.

These projects promote greater involvement of indigenous peoples in the direct management of protected areas to ensure equitable benefit sharing. This work is also part of an overall strategy for rural poverty alleviation. In addition, the project is building and strengthening organizational and technical capacity of local institutions to manage natural resources sustainably. The project will establish communication and information mechanisms that promote an effective exchange of information. The projects will work in collaboration with the International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and the United Nations Environment Programme.