This week we're taking you to East Africa to tell you about a really
important initiative that we're developing.
Our Land For Life project.
A project that is even more critical now in light of the covid-19 pandemic.
Stretching between the national parks of the Mara Serengeti
and Amber Selle Kilimanjaro in East Africa is a slice of land that's home to
thousands of people including Maasai communities
and their livestock.
It's also an incredibly important area for wildlife.
Why? Well, this land not only provides them with vital habitats,
but also migratory reroutes known as wildlife corridors
which link up areas of habitat.
Many species like elephants and lions
need to move across the landscape to access things like food water and new territories.
So these wildlife corridors enable these animals to move freely between the national parks,
but this is an increasingly threatened landscape
facing a variety of challenges and this is where our Land For Life project comes in.
So let's start with the challenges
and then we'll move on to how we're developing solutions with local communities.
The Maasai people have lived alongside wildlife in Southern Kenya
and Northern Tanzania for many centuries.
But this delicate balance is now under threat.
Poverty is high in the region, many people have limited livelyhood opportunities
and face food shortages,
which may be made worse by climate change.
Precious grasslands, forests and freshwater systems
which are vital for both people and wildlife are shrinking
more fenced privatized land is threatening Maasai livelihoods
and traditional herding practices
as well as blocking essential wildlife corridors.
Over time as resources diminish the competing demands between wildlife and people have increased.
Unfortunately, this can lead to human wildlife conflict
which is a huge problem in the region.
As wildlife habitat shrink and become fragmented
species such as elephants and lions
are increasingly coming into conflict with people and livestock.
This can have a significant impact on communities and wildlife
impacting food, safety and livelihoods.
These clashes can sadly sometimes lead to the
killing of wildlife in retaliation.
The covid-19 pandemic has really affected the area
and the lack of tourism has really hit the local communities hard.
Further increasing tensions between communities and wildlife.
So how then can this project to help?
Our Land For Life project aims to tackle these issues head-on
and to help improve the livelihoods of 27,000 people
as well as protecting and enhancing the vital wildlife corridors in this area.
We're collaborating with our local partners
as well as working directly with communities in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania
to create a healthy landscape that provides solutions
so that wildlife and people cannot only co-exist together but thrive.
We're going to support communities to secure the rights to their land
and to help them manage their natural resources sustainably.
We’ll also co-develop initiatives such as beekeeping
which are a source of income for communities.
We’ll also implement innovative ways for people to live safely alongside wildlife
such as predator deterrent lights powered by solar, to protect livestock at night
and to help reduce human wildlife conflict.
Ultimately, we’ll be working with local people to ensure
that they can benefit from living with wildlife
whether that's through job opportunities in conservation or tourism in the area.
Our aim is to reduce poverty, improve lives and protect wildlife.
We need to act urgently to avoid losing precious natural resources
and vital wildlife habitats across Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania.
This could have a devastating impact on local communities and wildlife.
If you donate to our Land For Life appeal before the 2nd of February 2021
the UK government will double your donation up to two million pounds
further helping to support local communities and wildlife
in southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania.
Helping wildlife and people to thrive through strong partnerships and community driven conservation
we’ll be working with local people to
create healthy landscapes, benefit from conservation and continue to be guardians of wildlife for future generations.
We really hope you enjoyed learning about our Land For Life project.
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