A CRITICAL CONSERVATION CORRIDOR IN NORTHERN KENYA

The whole eastern side of Kenya is characterised by vast expanses of encroaching desert. Few people live here, but those who do have long adapted to the rhythms of a dry, demanding land. Livestock rearing remains central to their way of life, shaped by centuries of movement. It’s a region that sees far less rain than elsewhere in Kenya, yet wildlife continues to roam here, drawn to the permanent water sources that snake through the land. Elephants, lions, lesser kudu, Beisa oryx, and other species persist, largely due to the region’s openness, sparse settlements, and the community-led efforts that continue to protect it.

Within this landscape is the Meru–Marsabit corridor, a vital stretch of land that connects key ecosystems in northern Kenya and acts as a genetic lifeline for lions moving between South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Research by Panthera has shown that the corridor plays a critical role in maintaining healthy lion populations. It is also an essential “pressure-release valve” for wildlife that are increasingly being pushed out of Laikipia by expanding farms and settlements. Yet this ecological importance comes under growing threat: bushmeat poaching, overgrazing, illegal firearms, and habitat degradation are all increasing. If left unchecked, the region’s viability, for both people and wildlife, could be seriously undermined.

At the centre of this corridor lies Shurr Community Conservancy, home to a pastoralist community made up mostly of Gabra, Rendille, and Borana people. It is a stronghold of community-led conservation, managed through elected local leadership. Established with the support of the Northern Rangelands Trust, they focus efforts on wildlife monitoring, community-led conservation, and ranger operations, ensuring effective lion and elephant tracking, habitat protection, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

WildLandscapes is now working alongside the community to help build capacity for long-term ecological stewardship, from equipping ranger teams to local leadership development. This first phase focuses on Shurr, but future phases will include neighbouring conservancies like Cherab and Biliqo-Bulesa, creating a wider conservation mosaic. The goal is to maintain open landscapes and restore ecological integrity, ensuring that both wildlife and the people who live alongside them can thrive.