The African Conservation Fund

What do a Maasai warrior and an American cowboy have in common besides cows?

Turns out, a whole lot.

This strategy, with communities learning from each other, effectively fosters community-conservation through “horizontal learning” based on traditional cultural diffusion.

Communities build not only the skills but also the confidence necessary to create their own institutions and conservation movements, incorporating their own lifeways and traditions. And most importantly, they learn to choose partners and skills, on their own terms, without creating donor-dependency.

Our first exchange took place from 2002 - 2004, between Kenyan Maasai pastoralists and Arizona ranchers and conservationists. Participants discovered that they share similar threats to their landscapes, wildlife, and ultimately the future of their culturs.

Implementation:

• American cowboys tried their hands at herding cattle on foot in Kenya and learned that Maasai name all their cows (see photo, top right);
• Maasai herders learned roping and how to ride horses (or mules, in the photo at lower right) in the US;
• Feasts were shared, and conservation issues and projects discussed.
• Media from both countries also took part.

Outcomes:

• Exchange of ideas lead to American ranchers looking at new ways to incorporate ecotourism into their ranch diversification plans; and Maasai pastoralists are adopting grassbanking and land trusts as ways to preserve historical open landscapes while protecting individual rights.
• An education film in English and Swahili, & New York Times article.
• More American communities in grassland ecosystems—including Native Americans—in addition to more Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Ethiopian pastoralists are expressing interest in the program.

Next Steps:

• Fundraising campaign to expand exchanges into new communities;
• Host a media tour on two continents, and
• Work with a full-length documentary film team as part of overall community-conservation messaging.

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