Kalama Community Wildlife Conservation Project

Kalama Community Wildlife Conservation (KCWC) is a GirGir Group Ranch initiative. The Group ranch is situated in Archer's Post / Lerata Sub-location, Waso Division in Samburu district. Bordering Samburu National Reserve to the south, Ngutuk Ongiron Group Ranch to the West and Namunyak Conservancy to the north. The group Ranch has a membership of 237 people with an estimated population of 200 members who are the direct beneficiaries of this project.

The main economic activity in the area is livestock production - a form of land use compatible with conservation. The members of Kalama are not new to tourism and conservation having coexisted with Samburu National Reserve since the early sixties. The Samburu County council that manage the reserve today share a proportion of revenue to Kalama as a compensation of their contribution when the reserve wildlife use their land as a dispersal area and the losses incurred when wildlife migrate through the group ranch to the north.

Scout training at Kalama

The impact of revenue sharing and employment opportunities in the lodges intimidated the members of this group ranch to intiate own income generating programmes, wildlife based. This gave birth to the creation of Kalama project through the efforts of many partners including KWS, Lewa, WIMI and Samburu County council.

The project is aimed at developing wildlife and eco tourism for income generation. This will offer an alternative form of land use from pastrolism and enhance the economic well being of the community.

Kalama Conservation area covers about 20,000 ha and forms a crucial wildlife migratory corridor between the southern and northern conservation areas.

More scout training at Kalama

CDTF FUNDING

In the year 2000, a feasibility study was carried out to explore the potential for wildlife and tourism. Based on these findings, the community approached BCP of CDTF for funding to develop the project. BCP gave the project 16 million shillings and the community are expected to raise 20% of the total project cost through cash / in kind. The BCP project covered some specific areas as follows:

1. Provision of infrastructure - roads, sign posts, offices and staff houses
2. Provision of water - dams and rock catchments constructions for wildlife.
3. Strengthening of security - This activity will entail training of scouts, provision of communication equipment and motor vehicle.
4. Provision of tourist facilities - This will entail opening of campsites, establishing camel safaris and a cultural manyatta.

The project Board of Management and Project Implementation Committee (PIC) are already in place. Both are answerable to GirGir Group Ranch committee, the umbrella body. It has incorporated Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in its project implementing committee for advice and to ensure implementation of the project. The project has employed 14 members of staff - project manager, accounts clerk and 12 game scouts