Equator Initiative Case Study Published

In 2012, the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust was awarded the United Nations Development Program Equator Prize.

The purpose of the UNDP Equator Initiative was to address a gap in knowledge mobilization of many untold stories. Many communities worldwide are contributing to innovation in sustainable developments for their populations and for the ecosystems sustaining them. There was an addressed lack of official publications that told the stories of these community initiatives, how they evolve, and what impacts they have made on the greater population and the wilderness and wildlife.

MWCT was marked as one of these "best-practices" for the purpose of community-based conservation and for providing sustainable livelihoods to local people.

Very recently, all of these prizewinners have had detailed "Best Practice Case Studies" written about them. These have been published on the Equator Initiative webpage, and we encourage you to take a look at the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Case Study!

Just click the image below and it will take you to an online PDF of the case study.

This document provides very succinct and detailed descriptions of the Trust, focusing on our "local sustainable developments for people, nature, and communities".

You can also take a look at the provided link to the Equator Initiative Database - this database contains case studies from the 152 successful communities organizations that have been awarded the Equator Prize for the past 11 years worldwide.

The Year in Conservation

With the year 2012 having recently come to a close, here's a quick recap of the major achievements of MWCT's Conservation Program over the past twelve months.  We experienced major achievements and successes on local, regional, and even international levels.  With your continued support and enthusiasm, we can make 2013 even more successful!

Maasai warriors listen to MWCT verifying officers explaining our Wildlife Pays program.

Local Level

• Our 8 Simba Scouts received training in advanced data collection methods and GPS use

• 7 lion hunts were halted by MWCT verifying officers and Rangers this year; only one lion was speared by Maasai warriors in self-defense while it was preying a cow

• MWCT established regular data sharing (lion observations and camera trap recordings) with nearby eco-tourism lodge Campi ya Kanzi

• 21 arrests were made by our Community Rangers this year
• 4 for elephant poaching
• 4 for bushmeat poaching
• 5 for illegal charcoaling
• 2 for forest destruction
• 6 for sandalwood logging

• We developed and implemented an environmental education curriculum for use in local schools to create conservation awareness and support; our presentations were given to more than 800 students

• 28 conservation outreaches were held in 16 different locations across Kuku Group Ranch, reaching more than 4200 residents through community meetings, discussions, and environmental film screenings

• Our Wildlife Pays program was under its compensation cap for all four quarters of 2012, indicating not only successful management, but also better husbandry by the Maasai

• In collaboration with multinational engineering firm AECOM, MWCT is developing a holistic water management plan for Kuku Group Ranch.  This project will include a wetland restoration project and the construction of pit latrines in several communities, as well as providing the Maasai with clean water sources

• Water use and discharge of springs in the Olpusare-Moilo farming area were recorded and 47 wells were mapped to enhance the Kuku Group Ranch water system model created by AECOM

A Maasai moran participates in the spear-throwing portion of the inaugural Maasai Olympics.

Regional Level

• In collaboration with the Maasailand Preservation Trust and the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, we organised the inaugural Maasai Olympics.  Intended to promote Maasai culture and warrior skills through a sports competition rather than traditional methods such as lion killing, the event was a great success

• Building on our memorandum of understanding with Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), 8 joint patrols were conducted and KWS assisted with four arrests by our Rangers.  We also worked with KWS to expand data and information sharing regarding conservation efforts in the region

• 44 MWCT Community Rangers received professional KWS Ranger training

Samson receiving his Champion of the Earth award from MWCT friend and actor Edward Norton.

International Level

• This summer at Rio+20 MWCT won the UNDP's 2012 Equator Prize and MWCT President Samson Parashina was named a UNDP Champion of the Earth for leading community efforts to conserve the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem

• We collaborated with the Zoological Society of London to develop a new wildlife monitoring protocol