The now 20,000 acre Ol Lentille Conservancy (originally 5000 acres), and on its way to increase to 30,000 acres and beyond belongs to the Maasai and Samburu communities living around Ol Lentille mountain, at 1977 metres the highest point in Laikipia.
Recovery
In 2002 the community began, with support from the African Wildlife Foundation to voluntarily exclude its own livestock from this area. The combination of community will, AWF expertise, and the management skills of Regenesis Limited has meant an astonishing recovery of wildlife and habitat. From overgrazed semi-desert to an abundance of flora and fauna in a few short years. With grass recovery, erosion has been halted and a spring, dead for at least 100 years, came back to life in 2008. This, together with the construction of a single rain-fed artificial waterhole has meant that elephant are resident for the first time in living memory. In this ruggedly scenic area, the endangered African wild dog are in abundance, with three distinct packs regularly traversing the Conservancy, and one having "denned" (had pups) here for the past 7 years. Leopard and klipspringer also abound.
Challenges
Nevertheless, with still too low a density of big bulk grazers such as buffalo and zebra (though in 2011 good numbers of both the common Burchell's zebra and the endangered Grevy's species), the extraordinary quantity and variety of grasses is becoming over-rested. We are therefore introducing a regime of conservation grazing within the Conservancy using cattle. This regime is closely managed and controlled in line with the theory and practice of Holistic Management (for more information go to www.savoryinstitute.com).
The Future
This ability to successfully run cattle and wildlife together in a conservation area will be key to the future of this landscape, its wildlife, and the pastoralist way of life.
What Can I Do?
The cost of conservation is high. Investment in conservation, though, is at the root of any economic development here - whether that be livestock production, tourism, bio-enterprise or carbon sequestration. Our ability to continue and develop this work depends on YOU. A gift of £50 per year entitles you to "adopt-an-acre" - this concept is proudly borrowed from Conservation International. It costs £1000 per year to keep 1 Ranger actively on the ground to protect this amazing wildlife habitat. Herdsmen are currently abused, not respected, and unpaid by their families. Skilled herdsmen deserve better. A gift of £400 would pay one herdsman for a full 12 months.
