Biliqo-Bulesa Community Conservancy is a significant community-based conservation area located in Isiolo County, Kenya. It was established in 2007, making it the first conservancy in the county.
Here’s a summary of what is known about Biliqo-Bulesa:
- Location: Isiolo County, Kenya, approximately 210 km northeast of Isiolo town, within Merti Sub County.
- Size: A large conservancy covering 327,600 hectares (3,276 square kilometers or approximately 809,500 acres). Some sources mention 377,300 hectares.
- Governance: It operates as a Not-for-Profit Company (since 2015) and is governed by an elected Board of community representatives.
- Community: The conservancy is primarily inhabited by the semi-nomadic Borana community living in about six settlements.
- Land Management: The entire conservancy land is communally owned and managed as an integrated livestock and wildlife range. The community follows a traditional grazing system (“Dedha”) blended with holistic management practices to support both livestock (around 70,000) and wildlife.
- Wildlife: Biliqo-Bulesa is an important corridor and dispersal area for various wildlife species, including:
- Elephant (flagship species)
- Oryx
- Giraffe
- Gerenuk
- Lion
- Cheetah
- Wild dog
- Buffalo
- Lesser Kudu
- A variety of game birds.
- Water Resources: The Ewaso Nyiro River forms the southern boundary, and there are also seasonal laghas and boreholes within the conservancy.
- Conservation Highlights:
- Protecting endangered species like elephants.
- Implementing traditional grazing methods with holistic management to restore rangelands.
- Preserving diverse wildlife.
- Promoting peace among pastoralist communities.
- Tree planting initiatives in schools.
- Community Benefits: The conservancy aims to improve the living standards of the local communities through various projects and revenue generation.
- Challenges: The conservancy faces challenges such as insufficient pasture and water leading to conflicts, and human-wildlife conflict (especially with elephants).
- Tourism: While not extensively detailed, the conservancy acts as a wildlife corridor and dispersal area, suggesting potential for wildlife tourism. They are seeking collaborations to increase tourism revenue.
- Recent Events: In early 2025, a Kenyan court ordered the temporary shutdown of Biliqo Bulesa (along with Cherab Conservancy) citing issues with their establishment and lack of adequate public participation and land registration. This ruling is a significant development for the conservancy and the wider NRT network.
Biliqo-Bulesa Community Conservancy represents a significant effort in community-led conservation in northern Kenya, focusing on the coexistence of pastoralist livelihoods and wildlife preservation. However, it is currently facing legal challenges that have impacted its operations.
