Milgis Trust Conserving the Milgis Ecosystem northern Kenya
The Milgis Trust aims to conserve the wildlife, habitat and pastoral people's way of life... •
The Milgis Trust's core area is located in northern Kenya within the drainage of the Matthews Range, Ndoto Mountains and Kirisia Hills, but spreading further north towards Oldonyo Mara, Mount Nyiru and Mount Kulal. The Trust's aim is to cover approximately 8,000 sq kms and supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and the pastoral livelihoods of several different nomadic tribes including the Samburu, Turkana and Rendille.
Helen Douglas-Dufresne runs the Trust on ground level. She is a colourful Kenyan and renowned conservationist who has walked the length and breadth of this part of northern Kenya for over two and a half decades. Along with her partner Pete Ilsley and their loyal Samburu crew they have taken hundreds of walking camel safaris through this remote and untouched land, learning and experiencing all it has to offer. Mama Helen as she is known by the Samburu has been welcomed with outstretched arms and is trusted more than any other in the region having worked hard to create a wonderful rapport and understanding with the communities, elders and warriors.
The Trust has the following objectives: • To provide security and communications to the area for the protection of wildlife; • To address the destruction of natural resources; • To increase local awareness of resource conservation among affiliated pastoral communities; • To support and enhance access to education for the pastoral communities in this remote region; • To facilitate access for pastoral communities to specialized healthcare by hosting medical clinics; • To motivate Quality rather than Quantity of livestock through better veterinary backup; • To improve the water situation by harvesting flood waters; enhancing water catchment areas; whilst providing clean drinking water to schools, medical centres and villages; • To strengthen the partnership between the Trust and the pastoral communities in the region so that future generations can continue to conserve this area.
Numbers of wildlife are dwindling fast throughout the world, with many species threatened to the point of extinction. But the Matthews-Ndotos region can provide a stable and safe environment for many of these rare and endangered species and the Milgis Trust is working hard to support and sustain it. The Trust provides protection to wildlife through the employment of local security scouts who monitor the wildlife and report any illegal activities or wounded animals. Any security issues are followed up in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and every effort is given to rescuing wounded animals so that they can be cared for until they make a full recovery.
This is just a short insight into the vision and mission of the Milgis Trust. For further information and how you can support their important work, visit: www.milgistrustkenya.com www.responseabilityalliance.com