THE NEWSLETTER OF THE RHINO ARK CHARITABLE TRUST NO. 40 MAY 2012 Safaricom Foundation Grants Rhino Ark RHINO Ksh 155 million For Mau Eburu CHAE RG ‘ 12 The Safaricom Foundation will provide Rhino Ark Ksh • Establishment of tree nurseries for communities 155 million for the restoration of the Mau Eburu Forest under the self-sustainable principle developed by It’s a way of life and its wider ecosystem. Rhino Ark; ……63 cars for The funds will be rolled out over a four-year period • Planning and development of compatible starting with immediate effect. livelihood projects that will earn income for forest- the 2012 Charge The grant was announced on April 3rd 2012 at a press edge communities; The 24th annual Rhino Charge conference in the Michael Joseph Centre at Safaricom • Creation of conditions for a broader ecosystem – Kenya’s self created unique House, Nairobi. conservation effort to enable wildlife corridors to motor sport off-road event – is just weeks away. Among the activities in which the funds will play a function through Eburu Forest linking the East Mau role are: and Lake Naivasha range and wetlands areas; and “The Rhino Charge is more • Protect the forest’s considerable biodiversity and than just an extreme sport, • Support for the Rhino Ark Eburu Forest Electric it becomes a way of life”, Fence to its completion; particularly its outstanding birdlife and threatened wildlife including a special effort to support the mouthed one veteran entrant • Restoration of areas degraded by unsolicited critically endangered Eastern Mountain Bongo. as he spat oil from his mouth encroachment; whilst fixing an undercar- A portion of the funds will also be set aside for an • Resolving of human/wildlife conflict with the riage oil seal on his bush endowment to be managed by a Trust in which the scarred Land Rover. fencing project; Government, through the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), • Engagement in partnership schemes with the the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Rhino Ark and the With a total of 63 cars under forest-edge communities as part of a major forest Eburu communities, would manage the forest into starters orders and commit- rehabilitation programme; the future. ted to fulfill their pledges ... Continued on page 5 to help fund Rhino Ark’s mountain ‘water tower’ con- servation drive, the event Fence Build begins April 2012 Stories continues to attract more on page applications than there are in Mt Kenya and Mau Eburu seven entry slots. As Rhino Charge rules clearly state, entrants pledge fund raise levels on a first- come, first-served basis. For the threshold of Ksh 1 million, a total of 19 entrants have made a pledge, and for the next level of Ksh 750,000, all the other competi- tors have pledged . No places remained for the last category for a Ksh 500,000 pledge. For the second year running, all 65 places were grabbed just three days into the 30-day second level offer period that Mt Kenya opened on August 1, 2011. ... Continued on page 8 Rhino Ark Objectives Rhino Ark seeks solutions in the mountain range ecosystems of Kenya, and for the benefit of Eastern Africa in general, to: Chairman’s view Colin Church • Conserve such ecologically precious, Who benefits - pays indigenous forests and their total habitat. • Resolve human / wildlife conflict. Rhino Ark is a Kenyan initiative complex, with its commitment Contents • Create a sustainable and harmonious that practices hands on to Mau Eburu. environment for people and wildlife – management for mountain 05 In both these initiatives indeed for all flora and fauna within ecosystems under the public/ Safaricom Foundation them. private partnership concept. ‘partnership’ is at its heart. The Government has committed donates 155 m Rhino Ark is Committed to: As we now enter the exciting to date 100 million shillings to • Mobilise stakeholders nationwide and stage of participating in Mt assist with fencing – Ksh 70 07 internationally for initiatives to protect Kenya and the Mau - two of million for Mt Kenya and Ksh 30 Mt Kenya - and conserve the habitat and promote Kenya’s most vital and high million for Mau Eburu. The big Challenge managed use of forest products for the Mau Eburu - valued mountain forest benefit of present and future generations. Fencing begins ecosystems and prime sources Rhino Ark funds raised from • Become a service provider for creating of water for millions - the the annual Rhino Charge are sustainable programmes for forest-edge providing Ksh 24 million and 09 communities across a range of eco- pertinence of our work comes with more planned. Then we Raffle prizes systems including, but not limited to, car- strongly into focus. bon sequestration. All such programmes have Kenya’s corporate world So often in conservation work and projects will be targeted to create led by the Safaricom Foundation 11 non-exploitive income generation for the there are two ingredients that with a grant of Ksh 155 million Chargers - seem to come in short supply: The stakes go communities. for Mau Eburu and Finlays, the higher • Raise funds and other forms of support hands on participation from horticultural export firm, with to develop sound management processes those who are directly and most substantial support for Mau over entire eco-systems. effected by habitat loss; and a Eburu (see pages 5, 7 & 12). There 12-13 focus on the whole ecosystem Rebuilding Mau • Create a framework where wider society are others who have done much Eburu and forest-edge communities become or rangeland which is under early work in both areas – the involved in the management processes threat. Kenya Forest Working Group (the through public-private partnerships. special focus arm of the East 14 There are many great initiatives • Build mechanisms and management African Wildlife Society), African Plastic Waste for that reach out and do very posts... Finlays structures to prevent illegal exploitation Wildlife Foundation, the Mt Kenya effective work for specific shows the way of the forest habitat wherever it is Trust, Greenbelt and Save the threatened species but lose threatened. Mau Trust. In doing so, all the stakeholders will benefit traction if the target does not 16-17 and endangered species – indeed all flora include those who live and are A formidable force is developing Rhino Ark News and fauna – will be better secured. part of the life of the ecosystem. to secure these precious and Today the pressure on all highly valued areas. A pillar of 18 Hog Charge resources is greater than at their future management has to any time in known history. include practical methods for the Act now!... ‘who benefits, pays’ principle. help us to continue our work We are now 7 billion souls on 19 this planet. Man is the greatest Spirit of RHINO ARK KENYA Charitable Trust If rainfall, farm output, tea the Charge P.O. Box 181 Uhuru Gardens, 00517 Nairobi, Kenya innovator, inventor and Tel: (254-20) 2136010 / 2136011 Fax: (254-20) 604246 production, water outflow, Mobiles: (254) 733-632460 / 724 604233 utiliser of our amazing natural stored carbon, hydro and Email: [email protected] resources; and also their most Website: www.rhinoark.org/www.rhinocharge.co.ke geothermal power is essential 20 Wildlife watch Kenya Wildlife Services Complex, Langata, Nairobi ruthless destroyer. for every person’s daily lives then Rhino Ark (UK) Charity No. 1047083 the utility and agricultural users Mr Guy Tritton, Chairman c/o Hogarth Chambers, So planning and management 5 New Square, London WC2A 3RJ of vital areas of great natural and providers need to hunker 21 Tel: (207) 421 2833, Fax: (207) 404 0505 down and invest back into the Rhino Ark Email: [email protected], [email protected] resource is increasingly at the UK News Website: www.rhinoark.org heart of economic and social ecosystem in a realistic way. A Website Donations: justgiving.com/charity/rhinoark welfare planning. cosmetic approach is passé. We Rhino Ark (US) need some hardheaded, hard 22 A registered US Charity with IRC 501 (c) 3 Status Evidence of this new thinking nosed and specific ways into friends of Ms Sheena Bliss Rhino Ark P.O. Box 46250 Madison, WI 53744-6250 is illustrated by those in the which participation is bedded for Tel: (1) 608 4423 536 Fax: (1) 608 4425 264 Email: [email protected] partnerships for securing Mt all future management processes www.wildlifedefenseusa.org Kenya and, with Rhino Ark’s for the mountain ‘gold mines’ of Website Donations: Firstgiving.com/Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable 3 Trust Inc. first foray in the Mau forest the country. Banking Details: US Bank, Gamon Place, Madison WI 53719 Rhino Ark News Grant - Continued from page one Colin Church, Chairman, Rhino Ark (seated left) and Les Baillie, Chairman Safaricom Foundation (seated right) are congratulated by (standing l-r) Fred Owino, Chairman of the National Water Towers Trust Management Committee and EAWLS, Mohammed A.M. Wa-Mwachai, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and Hassan Noor, Chairman Interim Co-ordinating Secretariat (ICS) for the Mau Forest Complex having signed the partnership agreement. Continued from page 1 Safaricom Foundation Chairman Les Baillie said Interviewed by Arkive, Michael Karanja, that the Foundation is keen to provide sustain- Chairman of Rhino Ark’s Board of Trustees said: ‘This is a milestone’ able support to the preservation of Kenya’s “In the practice of conserving our indigenous Mohammed A.M. Wa-Mwachai, environment and natural resources through mountain forests, an essential ingredient is Permanent Secretary, Ministry of partnerships to grow forests, conserve biodiver- the partnership principle that must nourish Forestry and Wildlife sity, mitigate against human-wildlife conflict and grow between the communities that live and promote the use of renewal energy sources.