The Jaldesa Community Conservancy is located in Marsabit County, Kenya, in the eastern region of the country. Specifically, it’s situated in the Sagante/Jaldesa ward of Saku sub-county, near Marsabit National Park.
Here’s a summary of key information about the Jaldesa Community Conservancy:
- Establishment: The conservancy was formed in 2013.
- Land Ownership: The land is community land, covering a total area of 103,868 hectares (approximately 1,038 square kilometers or about 256,680 acres). Some sources state a size of 650 square kilometers.
- Governance: It is governed by the indigenous Borana community (predominantly, with about 10% Gabra). The management authority is the community itself. There is a board with 17 members, including representation of women and youth.
- Conservation Focus: The primary goals include:
- Wildlife conservation.
- Reducing human-wildlife conflict and poaching.
- Protecting and conserving the natural environment through sustainable land use.
- Ensuring equitable sharing of benefits from conservation.
- Rangeland management and restoration.
- Wildlife: The conservancy is a critical ecosystem and acts as a buffer zone for Marsabit National Park. Wildlife corridors exist between the park and the conservancy, allowing free movement of animals, especially elephants. Key wildlife species include:
- Elephants
- Giraffes
- Zebras
- Greater and lesser kudus
- Ostrich
- Leopards
- Community: The local communities are agro-pastoralists, keeping livestock and practicing subsistence agriculture. The population within the conservancy is around 16,758 people.
- Livelihoods: The main livelihood is pastoralism.
- Water Resources: The area has permanent springs, boreholes, traditional singing wells (“sagante”), and water pans.
- Rangelands: The conservancy is a mix of bush and grassland with diverse plant species, including various Acacia, Grewia, Commiphora, and Cordia species. Grazing plans are implemented to manage wet and dry season grazing.
- Community Benefits and Initiatives:
- Employment of community members as staff.
- Support for education through learning materials, food rations, and renovation of classes.
- Water and health programs.
- Education bursary programs for needy students.
- Technical and vocational training for local youth.
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- Support for youth and women with conservation-related business skills.
- Construction of water catchment and conservancy headquarters.
- Provision of water tanks for victims of human-elephant conflict.
- Partnerships: The conservancy works with various organizations, including the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Finn Church Aid (for peace building), and CIFA (for livelihood development and environmental conservation).
- Security: Security is a top priority, with efforts focused on reducing cattle rustling and highway banditry and promoting peaceful coexistence between neighboring communities.
The Jaldesa Community Conservancy plays a vital role in both wildlife conservation and supporting the livelihoods and development of the local Borana community in the Marsabit region.
