ANNUAL REPORT MISSION the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Works As a Model and Catalyst for the Conservation of Wildlife and Its Habitat
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© Martin Buzora / martinbuzora.bigcartel.com © Martin Buzora © Marcus Newton / www.marcusnewton.com © Marcus Newton OUR ANNUAL REPORT MISSION The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy works as a model and catalyst for the conservation of wildlife and its habitat. It does this through the protection and management of species, the initiation and support of community Lewa Wildlife Conservancy 2014A Catalyst & Model for Conservation | www.lewa.org conservation and development programmes, and the education of neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife. ii iii ABOUT THE LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Board of Directors Lewa is an award-winning catalyst and model for community conservation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features on the IUCN Michael Joseph - Chairman Green List of successful protected areas. Lewa is the heart of wildlife conservation, sustainable development and responsible tourism Mike Watson - Chief Executive Officer in northern Kenya and our successful working model has provided the framework on which many conservation organisations in the Mbuvi Ngunze - Vice Chairman Dr. Paula Kahumbu region are based. Dr. Julius Kipng’etich Prof. Patricia K. Mbote James Mworia Lewa Overseas (Deborah Gage) The Nature Conservancy (David Banks) Founding Patrons Ian Craig The late Anna Merz The late David ‘Mzee’ Craig The late Delia ‘Mama’ Craig © Anne & Steve Toon / www.toonphoto.com Toon © Anne & Steve Solveland / www.nataliesolveland.com © Natalie / www.toonphoto.com Toon © Anne & Steve Wilderness / www.lewawilderness.com © Lewa © Ami Vitale / www.amivitale.com © Ami Vitale 13% 50,000 12% 5,000 Photo Contributions Lewa hosts acclaimed photographers from all over the world each year. These artists play a crucial role in documenting and highlighting Lewa’s efforts and Of Kenya’s rhino population lives on Lewa. Estimated number of people who directly Of the global wild population of the Average number of tourists who are often generous in their contribution to our photo library. Lewa is a pioneering endangered species benefit from Lewa’s development endangered Grevy’s zebra is found visit Lewa each year. Earnings from We would like to thank each individual photographer whose image has been sanctuary established in 1983 to save the programmes in education, health, water on Lewa. This is the single largest tourism constitute 30% of Lewa’s used in this publication. If you have visited Lewa and have amazing photos black rhino in Kenya from extinction. 70 management, infrastructural upgrades, population in one place and it is crucial annual revenue, critical funds that are and videos to share, please email them to us at [email protected]. other large mammals such as the elephant micro-enterprise initiatives, improved in the re-emergence of the species in ploughed back in to our conservation and lion also live freely on the Conservancy. security and much more. northern Kenya and beyond. and development programmes. © Ami Vitale / www.amivitale.com © Ami Vitale Production and Project Management: Wanjiku Kinuthia, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, [email protected] Design Consultant: Elodie Sampere, Wild Communications, [email protected] Lewa Wildlife Conservancy A Catalyst & Model for Conservation | www.lewa.org iv 1 LETTERS FROM OUR CHAIRMAN AND CEO RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE From Michael Joseph, our Chairman From Mike Watson, our Chief Executive Officer The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy recorded real Recognition of Lewa’s work both within Kenya highs in 2014 – no rhino lost to poachers, 15 and across the globe is of course crucial as we rhino births, finally the fence removed between look to build on our reputation as a model for Lewa and Borana to form a 93,000 acre rhino protected area management and as a catalyst landscape, IUCN Green Listing recognising for conservation. excellence in protected area management and elephant poaching in the greater Samburu Nomination during 2014 as one of the first area reduced by close to 50% due, in part, IUCN, Green List protected areas in Africa to our security contribution to the Northern and runner up for ‘Best Wildlife Conservation Rangelands Trust. Lewa also received accolades Organisation’ at the Safari Awards, were both as one of the leaders in poverty reduction hugely welcome and motivational for all by the globally respected World Responsible involved in Lewa. Tourism Awards. However, there is an aspect of our work that is becoming ever more critical and has long We raised significant funding from our loyal friends and the international Lewa Boards been Lewa’s ‘competitive advantage’ in my eyes, that being a commitment to community over the past year and we cannot fully express our appreciation for their dedicated development, livelihood support and the integration of local people in conservation. The and enthusiastic support. The Lewa marathon once again raised record amounts and relevance of wildlife and its conservation to the lives of people living in these landscapes contributed greatly to reducing the gap between our costs and income. cannot be overstated and it is only by achieving this that wildlife is likely to have a future in a world where human populations continue to increase. However, securing sufficient funding to run our programmes continues to be the © Martin Buzora / martinbuzora.bigcartel.com © Martin Buzora greatest challenge as a conservation organisation. Lewa’s projects in conservation and Cognisant of this fact, one that is broadly acknowledged in conservation circles today, development are extensive and each year our role in the region as a catalyst and model the recognition of Lewa in the World Responsible Tourism awards for our role in ‘Poverty Lewa is one of only two properties in Africa to feature on the first IUCN Green List for community conservation continues to grow, necessitating the need for more financial Reduction’, serves to reinforce the fact that Lewa truly is a leader in its field. The Green List is a new and progressive initiative by the International Union for the programmes in education, health, women and youth empowerment that have resources to support our work. I am immensely proud of Mike Watson and his team who Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which celebrates the success of protected areas that reach transformed thousands of lives. Benefits of the listing include additional international continue to ensure that Lewa remains the unique environment which sets the standard We continue to set the bar very high and are only able to perpetuate Lewa’s success with excellent standards of management. It encourages the sharing of that success so that recognition, increased potential for financial support, motivation of protected area for all conservancies in Kenya and, dare I say it, Africa. We owe them a tremendous vote the invaluable support of a plethora of people and organisations who so generously give other protected areas can also reach high standards. This list will generally establish the managers to meet and maintain high standards of management and recognition by the of appreciation. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow directors for their unwavering of time, advice and funding, in support of Lewa’s work. first global measure for protected natural and conservation sites. international tourism industry among others. support, commitment and contribution over the past year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all as you read this report, for your Lewa is one of only two African organisations on the list, the other being nearby Ol Pejeta Lewa is entering a new and exciting phase, poised to play a greater role in the future of interest in and commitment to Lewa and in particular to our Board here in Kenya, whose The Green Listing has not only reinforced Lewa’s reputation for Conservancy, a key conservation partner. The sites were evaluated against a set of criteria Kenya’s conservation landscape. We have renewed vitality, vision and commitment and I engagement and passion for Lewa continues to be hugely evident and much appreciated excellence in management of wildlife and its habitat; it has also including the quality and management of the natural resources, tangible benefits to ask all of you to help us achieve the goals we have set for ourselves. by all of us on the ground. cemented the Conservancy’s status as a true model for conservation and communities and sustainable conservation outcomes. Lewa was specifically recognised for its excellence in wildlife conservation as well as its numerous community development. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy A Catalyst & Model for Conservation | www.lewa.org 2 3 SUCCESS IN ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION A CATALYST FOR RHINO CONSERVATION A thriving rhino population and a milestone achievement to create more space for it Steering the establishment of the first community-managed Preparing the people of Sera to welcome rhino once again attained its ecological carrying capacity for black rhino. rhino sanctuary in Kenya The fact that all rhino in Kenya and Africa are found only in protected areas means Rhino conservation in Kenya faces two main challenges. Poaching of these pachyderms that majority of the local people rarely get a chance to see these animals. The Samburu Thanks to our successful conservation programmes, Lewa is now for their horns causes devastation to the species while the lack of suitable and secure warriors from Sera Community Conservancy shown below visiting Lewa were no home to 13% of Kenya’s total rhino population. There are just over habitat exerts immense ecological pressure on areas holding excess numbers leading to a exception; none had ever seen a rhino in their life and some had never even seen a photo decline in breeding rates. 1,000 rhino in the country, making Lewa’s population significant in of a rhino. They approached baby rhino Nicky, Hope and Kilifi with curiosity and wonder. The young warriors visited Lewa last year to learn about endangered species conservation the preservation of the species.