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Generating Rural Incomes: Switching from
Cattle Raising to Conservation and Tourism
In Kenya, conservation is primarily focused
on national parks and game reserves, which comprise eight
percent of the country’s landmass. Through the Conservation
of Resources through Enterprise (CORE) program, USAID and
its partners help local communities learn to manage natural
resources and implement enterprises that provide local benefits.
The program provides training and technical assistance to
community-based organizations (CBOs) to improve governance,
financial accountability and transparency.
Ngwesi Lodge is an example of one small but
successful CBO enterprise that has inspired a number of similar
ventures throughout Kenya. Launched in 1996 (under USAID’s
COBRA project), Ngwesi is a 12-bed luxury lodge surrounded
by an 8,700 hectare conservation area. The conservation area,
called Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, was previously overgrazed and
badly degraded. Today, cattle are prohibited except during
severe drought. From the lodge, visitors can spot elephant,
buffalo, bushbuck, kudu and the occasional big cat.
In exchange for maintaining the conservation
area, the 448 registered households in the CBO receive multiple
financial and social benefits. Earnings from the lodge are
dispersed as wages to employees and as dividends to members.
About 50 community members work at the lodge. For these workers
and their families, wages are secure and consistent. Earners
spend them on activities such as building, savings and investment
in microenterprises.
Il Ngwesi Group Ranch illustrates that switching
from cattle herding to conservation can be good business for
local communities.
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Il Ngwesi Lodge: Linking Business
and Nature, Laikipia, Kenya
Community-owned and managed, this growing
enterprise on the slopes of Mount Kenya combines local knowledge,
business, and nature. Il Ngwesi Lodge-small but successful-is
proving that switching from cattle herding to conservation
can be good business for local communities; it is becoming
a model for conservation-based enterprise throughout East
Africa. Launched with the assistance of USAID's Conservation
of Biodiverse Resource Areas Project (COBRA) in 1996, this
community project has inspired a number of similar ventures
throughout Kenya ¾ as well as USAID's current Conservation
of Resources through Enterprises (CORE) project.
On land that was once overgrazed and badly
degraded, Il Ngwesi Group Ranch today hosts an 8,700 ha conservation
area surrounding a 12-bed, luxury lodge. Cattle are prohibited
from the conservation area except during severe drought. From
the lodge, visitors can spot elephant, buffalo, bushbuck,
kudu, and the occasional big cat.
Occupancy rates at the lodge have been increasing
steadily since the lodge opened its doors to visitors in December
1996 ¾ the Lodge hosted more than 1,000 visitors in
2000. Accordingly, earnings are growing: During its first
year, the lodge grossed $US 40,000; it earned an estimated
$US 85,000 in 2000.
The majority of these earnings fund community
development for the nearly 450 participating households. Some
are instead disbursed as dividends to group ranch members,
or as wages to employees. About 50 community members work
at the lodge. For these individuals and their families, wages
are secure and consistent; earners spend them on such activities
as building, savings, or investment into micro-enterprises.
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