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Kenya: Listen to Indigenous People On Conservation, NGO Leader Says

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Indigenous and local communities should be given a chance to speak on their social, economic and conservation issues, the leader of a nongovernmental organisation has said.

World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya CEO Mohammed Awer says conservation approaches designed in collaboration with communities and indigenous peoples can help mitigate any negative social impacts while providing lasting incentives – and benefits – for sustainable management of natural resources.

Mr Awer spoke on Monday in Olpusimoru on the Kenya-Tanzania border during the handing over of three 3,000-litre solar-powered milk cooling plants to three women’s groups from Olderkesi, Olkinyei and Lemek conservancies.

He urged leaders, NGOs and partners in the tourism sector to respect the rights of indigenous people and local communities.

Nature-based solutions

“Interventions like nature-based solutions add to the efforts of the local people like the Maasai community living along the Kenya-Tanzania border,” he said.

“Their legitimate voice must be heard. Leaders must amplify the voice of the Maasai and other indigenous communities. Organise forums for them to discuss how best to take this agenda forward.”

Following the outbreak of Covid-19, WWF-Kenya, he said, donors provided emergency grants of about 2.5 million euros to support locals in the larger Mara and Tsavo areas.

“This was under our BMZ-funded climate change adaptation project,” he said.

In the Olderkesi Conservancy, the community has also benefited from a 5,000 cubic metre water pan that will serve people and their livestock. Local youth groups received 100 beehives to start a beekeeping project.