Conservation: Ecology and community

Segera (where I work) and other privately managed natural areas in Laikipia and elsewhere are always faced with dealing with external developments, originating from sectors outside nature conservation, which have an increasing impact on conservation area management. Land use problems, Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC), security (mostly lack of it!) and provision of basic amenities often land at conservation managers’ desk. Often, “traditional” managers counter such external influences with internal measures such as technical and ecological management interventions. But external influences need externally oriented measures, requiring an adaptation of management styles. The conservation manager is no longer content wearing the traditional wildlife biologist hat, he has to be a communications guru, cattle trader, peacemaker, school running consultant and most importantly he has to go into trenches for conservation politics (proving the contention that conservation is 30% science and 70% politics).

These new skills demanded of conservation managers are oriented to more interactive approaches that stimulate involvement of stakeholders in decision making processes, thereby improving relationships. In this way the management will gain goodwill and understanding, also for less popular measures that may be needed. In other words, reputation is the social “capital” of the conservation area management. The best conservation work gets done when a diversity of interests work together for a common cause. Segera Jirani na Mazingira (neighbours and environment) programme is one such platform of bringing diverse interests together to work for a common goal. As often happens in many communities, crosscutting issues requires everybody to pull together to achieve a goal that gives all involved a sense of achievement.
Arising out of a baseline study conducted in 2009, the Segera JMC neighbourhood strategy seeks to encourage accountable and representative institutions that engage and communicate with Segera in the realization of a great African philosophical concept – Ubuntu – I am, because we are. Ubuntu is a word that speaks to our interconnectedness and the responsibility to each other that flows from our connection as human being and to nature. Whether in conservation or any other field, the interconnectedness of all and need to communicate with each other is critical.
Communication and involvement of communities in any conservation activity has been identified as a prerequisite for a successful effort. Indeed, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) puts high premium on conservation entities developing a coherent communication strategy. This communication needs to be institutionalized and professional and all the key stakeholders identified together with attitudes, knowledge and practices.
The JMC sensitization process started by holding barazas (public gatherings) in our neighbouring areas and expressing the desire to work together as neighbours. The extent to which conservation managers can become involved in affairs external to conservation became too apparent during the first community meeting in Endana when a fire broke out in a homestead near the meeting place and instantly the Zeitz Foundation vehicle became the fire truck, ferrying the neighbours to fight the fire! Such involvement and open and frank discussion of the past and future made the communities accept that we needed to change “business as usual” attitude towards environment. The more we interacted, the more questions regarding environment took more central place in our conversations.
The conversations were sometimes difficult and at times very pleasant. Having a conversation with victims of human wildlife conflict in a country with no injury or crop damage compensation scheme can be taxing but the satisfaction of listening to very articulate village environmental stewards more than made up for the bitterness expressed by the first group. Perhaps for me, the cultural sanctions placed by one community to the west of Segera on those who cut down trees were an awakening and perhaps the most powerful argument against the misplaced stereotype that Africans do not “understand conservation”.
After the communities were sufficiently sensitized and we were getting over 70% of adults attending the baraza, we (Segera and the communities) developed criteria of electing nominees to the JMC. Moreover, since this was a participatory process, we developed our own rules of engagement and responsibilities which JMC’s would have. Each of the neighbouring areas set their own criteria. However, overarching themes in such criteria were need for honesty, tolerance of diversity and commitment to be lead by example as far as environmental and cultural stewardship were concerned. Elections were then held and a committee of seven, a third of who are women was elected in each area.
On February 19, 2010 the first ever JMC workshop was held in Segera with community members involved in its preparation (choice of venue, catering and agenda) and active deliberations. Just like other decisions and actions undertaken by the Zeitz Foundation, the workshop agreed to be guided by the four key principles of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative in coming up with solutions to problems both environmental and social that affect us all as jirani and strive for the highest standards in sustainability through the balance of conservation and commerce, whilst fostering community development and cultural stewardship.
As perhaps the only person in the workshop to have interacted with all participants from the very first days of JMC and heard the concerns and fears of some of the neighbours, it was gratifying to see the stereotypical “walls” coming down and neighbour appreciating neighbour. Of course it would be naïve to think that one afternoon of good banter would make up for decades of environmental neglect, inter-ethnic conflict and suspicion but it will be an important first step in providing a platform for neighbours to interact, discuss and ensure the integrity of Laikipia ecosystem which we are part of.

Lightining Bolt in Laikipia

When a local daily carried a front page picture with caption “Usain Bolts into Kenya” in the same page with “32 ministers still cling to their prestige limousines” not many people in Laikipia took notice. But in the next four days Laikipia was constantly in the news as the land of endless horizon, affable people and spectacular wildlife played host to arguably the most recognizable face of modern sport, Usain Bolt. As the fastest man on earth enjoyed his first game drive, Laikipia also staked a claim as a “must visit” for anyone who enjoys wilderness experience.

But what was sprint king doing in the land of long distance runners? The likeable and down to earth man from Trelawney Parish in Jamaica was in Kenya as guest and ambassador of the Zeitz Foundation’s Long Run initiative during the launch of its Kenya chapter. Founded by Jochen Zeitz, the Chairman and CEO of Puma AG, , the foundation is inspired by a vision of the Ecosphere – our planet and all of its life-sustaining regions – maintained in the healthiest possible state, and is committed to promoting an inclusive, holistic paradigm of conservation that enhances livelihoods and fosters intercultural dialogue.

Through the Long Run initiative it seeks to show how working toward ecosphere safety can be commercially viable by having a sustainable balance between conservation, community, culture, and commerce through mostly tourism-driven enterprises, community development and cultural stewardship. Asked why he joined the initiative, Bolt says "I was attracted to the initiative because of its objectives on the conservation of the environment and co-existence of different cultures,"

Laikipia being the melting pot of Kenyan cultures, Bolt was not disappointed for the two days he interacted with the locals. On Saturday the 31^st, after a game drive at Segera Ranch, the Kenyan headquarters of the Zeitz foundation, he was made a Maasai moran and aptly named Loingwany.

After an hour of dancing Maasai warrior style Loingwany Bolt was heard telling Collin Jackson, a former Olympic 110 meters hurdles champion and foundation’s ambassador for sport “these Maasai men can dance man! It is like a gym workout”. That dance was perhaps a warm up for the following day as school children gave Bolt and other invited guests from Laikipia a proper cultural “workout” though dance and poetry recital after a luncheon hosted by Mr. Zeitz for local leaders.

The finale of the launch was showing of HOME movie by celebrated French filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The thought provoking movie shows the diversity of life on the Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet. As the narrator says in the movie, we cannot afford to be pessimistic, each of us has role to play in ensuring ecosphere safety.

After the track star left my place of work at Laikipia, I could not help wondering how humble and grounded the man was and how Zeitz Foundation was lucky to have him as our ambassador. Though the Morans may not have watched him run the phenomenal 9.58 secs in Berlin, they found a kinship with him due to his demeanour and his warrior qualities. Loingwany Bolt may have gone back to Jamaica and his track competitions but the conservation awareness he helped create will forever be appreciated by the good people of Laikipia.

How stuff works

How Mobile Phones work?
Most of you have asked yourselves how is it possible that mobile phone providers – Celtel, Safaricom and Telco Wireless are able to pinpoint exactly where you are. Even though we don’t care to admit it, it scares the hell out of many of us that there is a virtual Big Brother watching over everyone as long as you have a cell phone in your bag, pocket, car or house.
So how is it possible? Cellular systems are made up of numerous transmitting and receiving sites, whose individual coverage areas partially overlap. The concept of frequency reuse, the same frequency is used by several sites, allows a high traffic density in a wide area. Due to the limited transmission range of terminals, cellular systems are based on a large number of base stations on the infrastructure side, scattered over the area to cover, with each covering a fairly small geographical zone called cells.
The GSM network that most of us use can be broadly divided into three parts: Mobile Station (MS) carried by the subscriber. This is the phone that you have in your pocket. Next, we have Base Station Sub-System (BSS) that folks here call Booster which controls the radio link with your handset. Finally, we have Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) which performs the switching of call between mobile phone users, and between mobile and fixed network users.
So how do Safaricom/Celtel know where you are?
Each mobile station (phone) is given a unique identity. As soon as the mobile phone is turned on, it registers with the network and is authenticated; as such the network could always find the mobile phone. A larger amount of data is being exchanged between your phone and the Mobile Switching Centre at Safaricom/Celtel.
At the service provider (Safaricom/Celltel) there is a Visitor Location Register (VLR). This VLR stores information about mobile subscribers that enter its coverage area, which is associated with the geographical area where the mobile is currently roaming. When there is an incoming call for the mobile, the computers is interrogated about the present address of the VLR.
There is also Home Location Register-HLR. This is a database that contains all data concerning the subscription of the mobile subscriber, i.e. access capabilities, subscribed services and supplementary services like M-Pesa,. It contains information about the VLR that is handling your mobile phone. When you move from area covered by the BSS (Booster) the HLR is updated accordingly. It also provides the Safarcion/Celtel Computers with information about the Mobile Switching Centre area where your phone is actually located to allow incoming calls to be routed immediately to the called party.
At the back of each phone there is 15 digit number that is unique to your phone. This can also be accessed by pressing *#06#. This is called International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI). This is what identifies your phone on the network. In addition tot his and most importantly there is Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). This is a smart card which has a computer, and a memory chip that is permanently installed in the mobile equipment. The subscriber information which includes a unique number called the International Mobile subscriber Identity (IMSI) is stored in the SIM card. SIM card identifies the subscriber to the network.
Every new phone (after year 2000) comes equipped with a Global Position System (GPS) chip that gives geographic coordinates of the phone. Essentially, every time your phone is on, the service provider knows exactly where you are with accuracy of less than ten meters! To those who are fond of threatening others over the phone, desist because the BIG brother is watching.
Most people have heard of how police arrest people based on the information from a mobile phone. This is how it is possible. Every time you switch on a mobile phone, the IMEI number and your IMSI are paired and the information is logged at safaricom/celtel computers. If you steal or buy a stolen phone and possibly there was a major crime related with that phone, the police will capture you based on the IMEI and IMSI pairing. Do not bother to change a SIM card because no matter what you do, the log exists. Take my advice because you might need it, DO NOT BUY stolen mobile phones, they could land you in prison.

Elephant Diary!
I never thought in a million years I would be blogging and talking about elephants. They are supposed to be brutes and if you talk about small holder farmers, they are devil incarnate.

But have you ever wondered where a seven tonne creature would be getting food from if we continued to encroach on where for generations he has reigned? There are no easy answers to the issue of human elephant conflict anywhere in the world but we must recognise the right to exist for the beasts and for us.

No tourist will come to any elephant hosting country and resist the urge to see the King. Tourist revenues are more likely build on elephant than any other animal.

So why am praising the elephant? Confession first! No other animal has ever given me fright like the elephant. I was a newly recruited researcher on a field trip to see elephant scouts and am riding at 60KPH with no care in the world when out of blues emerges the biggest creature I ever saw. I cant slow down beacuse aunties and sisters (elephants are matriachal) are right behind me. I zooomed off to the delight of a more experienced colleague who took his time, put the bike in neutral mode and enjoyed the spectacle for 30 minutes while i was on my cellphone trying to confirm whether he had been trampled.

Next time i rode there I enjoyed a sight that probably most of you only conceptualize -mating of the pachyderms.
and that is a story for another day.