The African Conservation Fund

The following report was filed in July by Shiloh Sundstrom, a researcher at Oregon State University whose study Maasai Perspectives on the Future of Community-Based Management of Wildlife and Livestock in Southern Kenya is part of our Partner in Conservation Program (African Conservation Fund supports research and small conservation efforts through pass-through funding and small grants assistance; click here to go to the program page.)

"Upon my arrival to Kenya in December 2007 I connected with the African Conservation Centre and the South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO) to begin the fieldwork phase of my project. Unfortunately, the onset of my fieldwork was delayed because of civil unrest following Kenya's presidential election.  However, with this time I was able to work with my local partners in order to focus on the project on issues that are most important to the future of Maasai traditional livestock herding and their coexistence with wildlife.  In addition to the South Rift Association of Landowners I also developed a relationship with the Amboseli-Tsavo Group Ranches Association (both groups organized by Maasai Communities to promote sustainable natural resource management and community-based conservation throughout Maasailand) . . ."

Specifically, the project focused on issues of land privatization and community-based conservation in Maasai livestock herding communities in Kenya.  The bulk of the research took place on the Mailua and Olgulului/Lolorashi Group Ranches in southern Kenya. This project was very important because much of the habitat for Kenya's world renowned wildlife populations occurs on private land occupied by Maasai livestock herders and because traditional migration schemes and grazing strategies of the Maasai and their livestock are similar to that of wildlife.

For centuries, the Maasai have long coexisted with wildlife with little conflict.  The subdivision and privatization of Maasai communal lands into cooperatively owned Maasai group ranches following Kenya's independence from Britain in 1964 did little to change this coexistence.  However, today many of these ranches are being subdivided into even smaller pieces of individually owned land, which creates the possibility of major changes to both the traditional Maasai way of life and the wildlife that rely on these lands for habitat. 

Through interviews conducted with Maasai livestock herders on two group ranches in southern Kenya, I sought to understand some of the major changes to Maasai traditional natural resource management occurring as a result of these shifts in land ownership and how these affect opportunities for community-based conservation.

When my work is complete, my research will be utilized by the African Conservation Centre and their partners to develop and guide their conservation and development activities within these communities.  I am currently writing my thesis and hope to complete the project by the end of 2008. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the African Conservation Fund and all of my donors who have made this project possible.  As a result of this trip I have been asked to return to Kenya in the future to monitor ongoing conservation and development activities within these communities and to further these studies.