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.