Northern Rangelands Trust

>
Northern Rangelands Trust - Home About NRT Conservancies Development Conservation Tourism Partnerships

Meibae

Location of Meibae in northern Kenya

Conservancy Facts
Location Nkaroni, Sesia, Lpus and Ltirimin Group Ranches, Wamba Division, Samburu District
Postal address C/o Northern Rangelands Trust, Private Bag, Isiolo
Ethnicity Samburu
Population 10,000
Land ownership Group Ranches
Core conservation area To be designated
Main livelihood Livestock-keeping
Key wildlife species Grevy’s zebra, elephant, lion, leopard
Year of registration 2006
Current donors AZA Conservation Endowment Fund, Jackson Zoo
Staff employed from the community 15
Annual operating budget US$ 65,000

Background to Meibae
The West Gate Community Conservancy and the adjacent Ngaroni, Sessia, Ilpus and Ntirimin Group Ranches hold over 600 Grevy’s zebra, representing over 30% of the global population of 2,250 animals. This population moves between the community-owned land and the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves in the south.

The Ngaroni, Sessia, Ilpus and Ntirimin Group Ranches that make up the Meibae Conservancy (meaning “consensus”) are in the process of building a foundation for conservation through which they can initiate monitoring and security of key species. The Northern Rangelands Trust is providing guidance and training to enhance the expertise within this new Community Conservancy with the long-term goal of enabling independent management.

Objectives of Meibae Conservancy:

  • Improved security for area wildlife and people
  • Establishment of a cohesive, coordinated Community Conservancy through which to implement conservation goals
  • Specific protection and monitoring of Grevy’s zebra
  • Improved resource access for Grevy’s zebra
  • Engagement of the broader community in this long-term conservation initiative

Future of Meibae
Future activities of the Meibae Conservancy include:

Immediate plans

  • Identification and demarcation of a core conservation area
  • Development of binding grazing by-laws
  • Election of a Board of Trustees
  • Community awareness and mobilisation
  • Recruitment of additional scouts to cover the new areas
  • Improvement of the road network
  • Expansion of radio communications

Long-term plans

  • Procurement of a vehicle and driver
  • Development of Conservancy Offices
  • Tourism Development
  • Range rehabilitation
  • Development of micro-credit schemes
  • Support to school and bursaries