www.eawildlife.org INSIDE SWARA 2013 -3 CITES URGES STRICTER MEASURES ON COUNTRIES FLOUTING WILDLIFE TRADE BANS RHINO JEWELLERY THE LATEST ASIAN FASHION FAD IT’S NOT JUST CHINA. NEW YORK IS GATEWAY FOR ILLEGAL IVORY IVORY AND CORRUPTION. AN INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD LEAKEY CONSERVATION SAN FRONTIÈRES FOR GORILLAS EAWLS NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2013 1 FEED AND Save EndanGERED OSTRICH CampaiGN Samburu County Natural Resource Forum By Mildred Menda and James Napelit alomudang Living by Nature Wildlife Conservancy Trust a Kmember of Samburu County Natural Resource Forum (SCNRF) is actively involved in sensitizing and educating the local community on the need to conserve endangered species like Ostriches. Their vision is to im- prove the quality of life by conserv- ing the endangered species and the environment for better livelihoods of the local community. More than 20 ostriches are killed every month around the conservancy by poachers and the local community who often use ostrich feathers during cultural celebrations and ceremo- nies like weddings. Traditionally, every ceremony in Turkana culture requires a new set of feathers. This One month after rescue from poachers leads to a high number of ostriches being killed wantonly. welcomes donor support both in kind and cash to help maintain and feed Since the conservancy was initiated, the major challenge has been poach- the rescued ostriches who are in dire ing. Poachers, often armed with crude need of food and shelter to save their weapons, traps and guns traverse lives. the conservancy to kill animals for their meat, skin and trophies. These Kalomudang Conservancy Trust are Those who have benefited from the trapped and maimed animals are the poor and nomadic communities often left to die in the forest. living in Kalomudang group ranch Rehabilitating maimed and injured located in Samburu County. After 7 months in the conservancy’ animals is painstaking and expensive, often done with limited resources. The Samburu County Natural Re- Forums including Kwale, Laikipia and These rehabilitated animals will source Forum (SCNRF) is among Nakuru initiated by the East African eventually be released back to the the four County Natural Resource Wild Life Society. wild. For more information contact; The Co-ordinator, James Napelit, Kalomudang Conservancy Kalomudang conservancy is cur- P. O BOX 11, Baragoi-Samburu County. [email protected] rently struggling to feed, rehabilitate Donations can be sent to the conservancy through; Mpesa: 0727303567 and house 8 rescued ostriches due KCB Account Number: 1114114499 to lack of funds. Kalomudang kindly 22 EAWLSEAWLS NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER JULYJULY -- SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 20132013 EAWLS STAFF ATTENDS POLICY ADVOCACY AND ANALYSIS TRAINING By Celline Achieng' elline Achieng’, a Project Coordinator with the East CAfrican Wild Life Society (EAWLS) recently attended a two- week training sponsored by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on ‘Policy Advocacy and Analysis’ at the Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke-(MS- Training Centre for Development Cooperation) in Arusha in June 2013. MS-TCDC is a training centre run in partnership between the Royal Danish Government and the Government of Tanzania. The main objective of this institution is to build the capacity of staff by providing in-service training; WWF made use of this opportunity by sponsoring Celline. EAWLS has been working in governance system of Kenya. Besides, collaboration with the WWF in WWF funds the activities undertaken Top: Celline receiving her certificate strengthening the capacity of Civil under this programme hence Below: Participants during the training Society Organizations to participate capacity building of their grantees. in formulation and implementation This training was quite relevant of policies and laws in the devolved because Celline is involved in a three- year project that is geared towards involving communities at county level to participate in formulation and review of policies and laws that govern natural resources. This project is being implemented through County Natural Resource Networks/ Forums in four pilot counties After 7 months in the conservancy’ including Kwale, Laikipia, Samburu and Nakuru. Celline will therefore, play a key role in helping communities to draft policies, identify implementable policy options, monitor and evaluate policy implementation and advise on when to change a policy. EAWLS wishes to take this opportunity to thank WWF for the sponsorship. EAWLS NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2013 3 PROPOSED NIOBIUM MINING AT MRIMA HILL FOREST: IS IT A THREAT? By Mildred Menda and Alex Ngari with contribution from Mohamed Ali (Coordinator of KCNRN) he proposed mining of Niobium at Mrima Hill Forest Tis a matter that has given the Kwale County Natural Resource Network (KCNRN) members some discomfort for some time now. Some of the network members are Kaya elders from Mrima and they have particularly not been at ease with the proposed project. Why is this? They foresee the existence of the forest ecosystem that has been very dear to them for centuries resource-wise and culturally being lost, thanks to a proposal to mine Niobium and rare earth metals discovered around and right below the roots of the forest trees. The discovery of these minerals has thrown the local community into disharmony and some local Members of KCNRN during a meeting with Kaya elders in Kwale. leaders have behaved in a manner to suggest that with or without the of grey areas to which the network forest the project has to proceed, given; what happens when they • A number of promises have been without an iota of reference to the are not met after the project responded in the affirmative. relevant laws, at least, during their The key concerns raised by the Kaya starts, why have the investors gestures and unsolicited addresses. elders were: developed cold feet about What the politicians should know legalizing their promises to the is that, Kenyan citizens have more community? power than any time before, over the thanks to the overtures by • The community has been divided governance of their natural resources the project proponents; some to be mined are radioactive), • How will safety (some minerals through the Constitution. heavenly promises have been equity, respect for community given to soften the stand of those cultural rights be maintained and Faced with this seemingly unlucky who may have some divergent protected? position, the Kaya elders from views regarding mining Mrima felt un-accommodated and community cultural rights on • What will happen to the ignored and more exposed than ever. (CSR) activities are being Kaya Mrima if the mining was to • Corporate Social Responsibility Before they despaired, they called undertaken even before the actual go on, are such rights recoverable to a meeting the umbrella group; mining begins; is this equitable to after destruction of spiritual KCNRN, to help make clear, a number bribery? abodes? 4 EAWLS NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2013 continue throwing the electorate • Can the political leaders afford to into confusion regarding their natural resources? Transparency and accountability in natural resource management are some of the issues KCNRN has county governor. presented to the office of the These and others are some of the stark issues that KCNRN is engaging the people of Kwale county, the Jim Nyamu leads the procession through Nanyuki town. leadership, and other stakeholders in natural resource management on, with a view of achieving equity and WALKING TO SAVE THE sustainable development of Kwale county natural resource base. ELEPHANT AND RHINO KCNRN is a legal entity registered By Dennis Sang under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development. It The Kenyan government and local communities need to work is a membership-based organization, together to combat the rise of poaching in the country. that creates a platform for community organizations, NGOs, Jim Nyamu, a wildlife expert and conservationist, has been leading Private sector and Government a walking campaign to educate people on the dangers and effects of agencies with interest in natural poaching in the country. Speaking in Nanyuki in one of his walking resources e.g. land, water, minerals, campaign circuits of the Mount Kenya region, Jim said that a lot of wildlife, forestry and marine to recent killings of rhinos and elephants for their horns and ivory are engage each other in education, happening within and among people living with wildlife. awareness creation, promotion of openness and empowerment on The East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS) and Laikipia County advocacy among other areas of Natural Resource Network (LAICONAR) joined Jim in Nanyuki in early natural resource development. The June in support of the campaign against the vice. EAWLS donated Network also provides a mechanism copies of its premier magazine; Swara, with articles on the poaching for public participation and active scourge to help in education and creating awareness through his engagement in policy formulation travels. The Swara magazines were distributed to various schools and and legislation, review thereof, Wanjohi decried the poaching scourge saying that the criminals were implementation and in decision robbingCounty administration the nation of her offices. natural The heritage. coordinator of LAICONAR, David making processes on natural resources of Kwale County. Jim’s over 1,500km walk from Mara in Kenya ended in Nairobi on 29th June at the Ivory Burning Site inside the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) headquarters where he was received by the Cabinet Secretary of natural resources within Kwale KCNRN welcomes all in the field of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Prof. County to work together and actively involve the community in the development agenda of the County. HeJudi is Wakhungu, planning another and a host walking of senior circuit officers for he from says theKWS. campaign is The Network receives support from not done yet, even hinting at crossing borders to educate the so- The East African Wild Life Society called consumers of ivory and help debunk the myths that fuel ivory (EAWLS), World Wide Fund for poaching.