Celebrating Community-led Conservation: ‘The Story of NRT’ Film Launch

Kenya’s community conservancies are one of the most progressive conservation models and demonstrate how people and wildlife can coexist, and ultimately thrive, together.

‘The Story of Northern Rangelands Trust’ (NRT) is a series of short films, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and created in partnership with the Government of Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Northern Rangelands Trust. The films highlight the work and impact of NRT and local community members in northern Kenya.

National Geographic filmmaker Peter McBride produced the films for USAID and NRT in 2019. They will premiere on KTN at 10pm on June 5th to celebrate World Environment Day and will be re-aired June 6th at 8pm.

‘The Story of NRT’ was filmed across several community conservancies in northern Kenya. In April 2021, the films were shown to community members in Kalama, Namunyak, Sere-Olipi and Sera conservancies whose stories are featured in the films. The June 5th premiere will begin with highlights from these community conservancy members as they experience the films for the first time. NRT will continue showcasing these important films and engaging in these critical conversations with all 39 community conservancies across northern and coastal Kenya.

‘The Story of NRT’ showcases the success of the community conservancy model and how it brings peace to both communities and wildlife. Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Hon. Najib Balala viewed the films and commented: “I saw the NRT film about the community conservancies. I realized that people had a vision not only about conservation and wildlife, but how communities can participate and also benefit. It’s about valuing that this heritage is important not only to us - but to future generations of our country.”

The ‘Story of NRT’ screening in conservancies

Bringing the stories and conversation about community conservancies into the homes of people across Kenya is critical to engage with people on a variety levels about how and why this model works.

As NRT’s CEO Tom Lalampaa notes: “It is widely acknowledged that for humans and wildlife to coexist and to continue to use our earth's natural resources, we need to protect 30% of the land, rivers and wetlands across the world within the next decade. The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) recognizes that to do this successfully, we need to find solutions that benefit people, land and wildlife - this is what the community conservancy model is all about. At present, NRT supports 39 community conservancies, protecting 4.4 million hectares of land and benefitting 465,170 people. With the support of our donor partners, in particular USAID, NRT is able to assist communities in the protection of their land, wildlife, livestock and culture for themselves and for the next generation living in these unique landscapes.”

Tom Lalampaa, CEO, Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT)

The June 5th premiere will include interviews with leaders from NRT. NRT’s CEO Tom Lalampaa will share how and why the community conservancy model builds peace and conserves the natural world. Tom grew up in West Gate Conservancy and has experienced NRT’s model firsthand. He now leads the organization as it grows to serve more people and more conservancies in northern and coastal Kenya. Joining him is Beatrice Lempaira, production manager at BeadWORKS, a women-led traditional and sustainable beadwork company, currently empowering 1250 women in nine conservancies.

The third panelist is Dorothy Lewakutuk. Dorothy is from Namunyak Conservancy where she is a caretaker of orphaned elephants at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. The elephants she cares for are rescued after being orphaned or abandoned and are rehabilitated until they can be released back into the wild. The panel members will be sharing their personal experiences and beliefs on how the community conservancy model has changed the lives of those close to them and the opportunities for continued development.

‘The Story of NRT’ can be viewed on KTN at 10pm on Saturday, June 5th (World Environment Day). In addition, the event will be streamed on the following social media platforms at the same time:

NRT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthernRangelandsTrust

NRT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrt_kenya/

NRT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNorthernRangelandsTrust

KTN will again re-air ‘The Story of NRT’ on June 6th at 8pm.

About the Kenya Wildlife Service

KWS - Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a state corporation that was established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 376), now repealed by WCMA (2013), with the mandate to conserve and manage wildlife in Kenya, and to enforce related laws and regulations. KWS undertakes conservation and management of wildlife resources across all protected area systems, including community conservancies in collaboration with stakeholders.

About the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT)

The Northern Rangelands Trust is a community conservancy membership organization that works for 39 community conservancies across northern and coastal Kenya. With support from principal donors USAID, The Nature Conservancy, DANIDA, and the European Union - NRT and the community conservancies are transforming lives, building peace and conserving natural resources. This indigenous movement is empowering communities to develop locally-led governance structures, implement rangelands management and wildlife conservation programmes, identify and lead development projects, and manage sustainable businesses linked to conservation. Their success has helped shape new government regulations on establishing, registering and managing community conservancies in Kenya.

Connect with NRT: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

About USAID

The United States Agency for International Development leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance. In Kenya, USAID works with partners to support community conservancy models in key landscapes including northern Kenya, Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo to protect wildlife outside the protected areas and establish connectivity corridors. Communities play a key role in both the protection and conservation of wildlife and are best positioned to support on-the-ground anti-poaching efforts. USAID has partnered with NRT since 2004.