Lower Tana Delta Conservation Trust is an organization deeply involved in the conservation of the unique and ecologically important wetland of the Tana Delta in Kenya. It works closely with the local communities who are integral members of the Trust.
Here’s a breakdown of what the Lower Tana Delta Conservation Trust focuses on:
Core Objectives:
- Conservation: Protecting the biodiversity and the delicate ecosystems of the Lower Tana Delta, including its forests, grasslands, wetlands, and marine areas.
- Community Empowerment: Improving the standard of living for the marginalized indigenous communities within the Tana Delta.
- Sustainable Development: Implementing projects that provide income and promote environmental conservation simultaneously.
Key Activities and Community Projects:
- Community Game Scouts & Anti-Poaching Units: The Trust funds and supports local community members to act as game scouts, protecting wildlife and combating poaching within the proposed community conservancy areas.
- Land Leasing for Conservation: The Trust works with local landowners to lease their land, ensuring it remains free from settlements, farming, and uncontrolled livestock grazing, thus creating safe habitats and wildlife corridors.
- Sustainable Livelihood Projects:
- Bee-keeping: Supporting local communities in establishing and managing bee-keeping initiatives to generate income through honey production while promoting environmental conservation.
- Bio-gas Units: Funding and implementing bio-gas units to provide a clean energy source for local communities, reducing reliance on firewood and its associated environmental impacts.
- Handicraft Sales: Supporting local women’s groups by providing a platform to sell their traditional handicrafts in lodges and at fairs, enabling them to earn an income.
- Poultry Projects: Supporting women in raising indigenous chickens as an income-generating activity, often using a microfinance model.
- Livestock Feed Irrigation Projects: Exploring and implementing projects to improve livestock feed through irrigation, aiming for sustainable pastoralism.
- Fisheries Support: Assisting fishing communities with resources and technical support for sustainable fishing practices and market access, including projects like fish ponds.
- Water Resource Management: Developing water catchment dams and rainwater harvesting systems to improve water supplies for the communities.
- Rangeland Management: Implementing planned grazing schemes to prevent overgrazing and improve the health of both livestock and wildlife habitats.
- Education and Awareness: Supporting education programs and raising awareness within the community about the importance of conservation.
- Partnerships: Collaborating with various organizations (like Nature Kenya, WWF, and government agencies) on broader conservation and development initiatives within the Tana Delta.
- Supporting Local Businesses: Partnering with and supporting eco-tourism lodges like Delta Dunes Lodge, which was a founder of the Trust and actively contributes through bed night and conservation fees.
The Lower Tana Delta Conservation Trust plays a crucial role in balancing the needs of both the environment and the local communities within this vital and ecologically significant region of Kenya. Their work focuses on long-term sustainability and empowering the people who live alongside the rich biodiversity of the Tana Delta.
