Enterprise Development
Over 80% of large mammals from Amboseli National Park disperse into the neighbouring lands of the Maasai community whose livelihood is deep-rooted in pastoralism.
Rampant land subdivision and deterioration of habitat have greatly constrained the grazing spaces available for the wildlife and the large herds of the Maasai, adversely affecting wildlife populations and community livelihoods.
ALOCA’s Community Livelihoods programme recognises that the efforts of indigenous people and local communities are crucial in stewarding ecological connectivity. The programme, therefore, supports the local community to gain meaningful and sustainable revenue from natural resources management. It comprises three focus areas as outlined below.
1. Nature-based Ventures
Securing wildlife corridors and dispersal areas through conservancies not only improves the integrity of the ecosystem but also creates opportunities for the landowners to explore the economic potential of conservation, all while decreasing the over-reliance on livestock production. Direct economic benefits include:
- Income generation through leasing fees to investors looking to establish eco-tourism facilities
- Skill development through capacity building trainings and peer-learning exchange workshops
- Employment opportunities, such as tour guides, game scouts and eco-lodge staff
Additionally, the landowners continue to have access to the natural resources in the conservancies to meet their livestock grazing needs.
2. Livestock Production Improvement
Pastoralism is compatible with wildlife conservation. The focus, therefore, is incorporating measures to enhance this compatibility, such as minimising livestock predation and disease management and also exploring areas where the local community can keep fewer high-quality breeds that require less production cost. This lessens the pressure on the land while improving the local pastoral community’s income generation potential through livestock production.
3. Community Developmental Projects
Managing the conservancies holistically provides an opportunity for the local community to voice their developmental priorities and the economies of scale make it easier for the conservancies to work together to secure funds for social projects, such as improving water and health access and supporting sustainable infrastructure development, which plays a big role in tourism development.
