Melako Community Conservancy

Protecting Grevy’s Zebra and securing wildlife in the arid rangelands of northern Kenya.

Zoos Victoria partners Melako Community Conservancy in northern Kenya. The conservancy is community-run and aims to help people live in balance with wildlife through local development programs and sustainable use of natural resources. Melako Conservancy is one of 20 Kenyan conservancies coordinated by the Northern Rangelands Trust.

Melako Community Conservancy covers 45,000 hectares of arid rangelands and savannah, and supports approximately 6,000 people. It is also home to the Critically Endangered Grevyís Zebra, Equus grevyi, and other threatened arid species such as the African Elephant, Loxodonta africana, and Beisa Oryx, Oryx beisa beisa.

The conservation issue

Traditionally, the Rendille people of Melako Conservancy are nomadic pastoralists, relying on livestock (camels, cattle, goats and sheep) for food, trade and income. A balance between livestock and wildlife numbers is essential for the health of the Rangelands. However, ongoing drought and human conflict over livestock have increased demand for grazing and water resources. These conditions combined with illegal poaching are putting further pressure on local wildlife populations.

Key program objectives

Melako Community Conservancy aims to:

• Restore the Rangelands of Northern Kenya and secure habitat and resources for Grevy’s Zebra
• Build the capacity of its community members by developing good governance systems, alternative income enterprises and supporting health and education programs
• Develop sustainable livestock markets and Rangeland management systems to support communities and wildlife.

Zoos Victoria’s role

Zoos Victoria funds the Melako Scouts to conduct wildlife monitoring, security and anti-poaching patrols. Their work results in the increased protection for Grevy’s Zebra and engages communities with the plight of the Rangelands.

Zoos Victoria also directly supports the women of Melako by selling their beadwork through our retail outlets – the Beads for Wildlife campaign. This alternative income stream reduces people’s reliance on livestock – helping to decrease livestock numbers, which increases access to water and grazing for wildlife.

Program outcomes

• Six hundred women employed to supply products for Zoos Victoria’s Beads for Wildlife campaign
• As of May 2012, almost 74,000 pieces of beadwork have been sold through Zoos Victoria, generating more than AUD $236,217 for women and their families in Melako
• Increased wildlife sightings in the Conservancy, including Grevy’s Zebras
• Radio-tower installed, increasing the scout’s communication and patrolling capability and anti-poaching effectiveness
• Greater wildlife security due to increased frequency and extent of wildlife scout patrols.

Program partners

Melako Community Conservancy
www.nrt-kenya.org/conservancies/Melako.html

Northern Rangelands Trust
www.nrt-kenya.org

Grevyís Zebra Trust
www.grevyszebratrust.org