DSWT Community Outreach Report June 2015

COMMUNITY OUTREACH MONTHLY REPORT JUNE 2015 SUMMARY: In June 2015, the DSWT hosted seven school trips, two wildlife video shows, planted 100 seedlings, donated assorted sports equipment and books to schools in the TCA whilst taking part in Kenya Water Towers Agency development strategies for the Chyulu Hills and Kibwezi Forest ecosystems.

Communities living in the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) have rapidly growing populations, low literacy levels, water scarcity, decreasing food production and low resilience to climate change. The combined effects of these conditions are causing an increase in bush meat poaching, environmental degradation and human-wildlife conflict.

For over a decade the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) has worked to improve the living conditions and educational standards of people living within the TCA. Much of these efforts take place through community outreach programs which support impoverished communities living in wildlife areas, helping them understand the needs of wildlife and the value they bring to the environment, ecosystem and economy of Kenya. .

JUNE 2015 SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS

In June 2015, the DSWT sponsored 7 free school trips into Tsavo West National part. Tsavo West is popular on account of its magnificent scenery, the Mzima springs, rich biodiversity and the Shetani Lava Flow.

The DSWT school trips start at 7:00 am at the Tsavo West, Mtito Andei gate where the children spend half an hour at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) education centre for a brief talk by the KWS education warden before proceeding to the Shetani Lava Flow through KWS Komboyo headquarters then to Mzima Springs, Chaimu Hills and finally Rhino Valley.

SCHOOL TRIPS

DATE

STUDENTS TEACHERS

Mosini Primary school (1) Mosini Primary school (2) Betwani Primary school (1) Betwani Primary school (2) Matangini Primary Betwani Secondary Baptist Primary school (1) TOTAL

2/6/2015 4/6/2015 8/6/2015 9/6/2015 22/6/2015 24/6/2015 29/6/2015

25 25 25 25 25 25 25 175

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 21

JUNE 2015 WILDLIFE FILM SHOWS

One of the ways the Community Outreach program has been able to educate numerous school children on wildlife conservation is through the film shows organised in schools and shopping centres throughout the TCA. In June 2015, the DSWT hosted three video shows reaching out to 1209 individuals. These videos which are made in the local easy to understand local Swahili language, highlights the current threats facing wildlife in the TCA and how everyone can join hands in reversing these threats. Apart from the conservation aspect of the video shows, schools kids also more on functionality of ecosystems which is part of their curriculum.

JUNE 2015 SCHOOL DONATIONS

The DSWT donated assorted hand written books and pencils to Kamunyu Primary School. Kamunyu Primary is the immediate neighbouring school to the DSWT field headquarters in Tsavo East, and over the years has immensely benefited from DSWT community outreach programs such as construction of classrooms, desks donations, school trips, tree seedlings, and much more. These books will improve the learning standards for the children who in many cases lack the most basic of learning material.

Additionally the DSWT donated assorted sports equipment to Mtito Andei Secondary School. This donation came at the right time when the Makueni County Sports Tournament was being hosted by the school.

JUNE 2015 TREE DONATIONS

Through unsustainable slash and burn agricultural practices and charcoal production, tree cover in community land has been substantially reduced in recent years. The DSWT is carrying out a tree planting program targeting schools in the Tsavo Conservation Area.

In June 2015, the DSWT donated 100 drought resistant neem seedlings to the Mtito-Andei Secondary School, these seedling are raised at the DSWT field headquarters at Kaluku farm. The DSWT also carried out weeding and other aftercare management of seedlings planted in various schools earlier this year.

JUNE 2015 KENYA WATER TOWERS MEETING

For two months, the DSWT has been working closely with the Kenya Water Towers Agency, which is a Kenyan government organization in charge of coordinating and overseeing the protection, rehabilitation, conservation, and sustainable management of water towers, forest lands, wetlands and biodiversity.

These workshops and meetings have been working towards developing a community development matrix for the Chyulu Water Tower ecosystem. The DSWT being a major stakeholder in protecting the Kibwezi Forest, which is part of the Chyulu Water Tower, has actively participated in workshops organized by the KWTA, offering much needed information on the status of Chyulu ecosystems.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is reliant on your kind support in order to keep our community outreach projects running.

For more information about these projects please visit www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.com/community or email info@dswt.org