Coalition of Kenyan Conservationists Gather in Washington D.C. to Advocate for Increased U.S. Funding

This June, we had the privilege of bringing together key players in Kenyan conservation — Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy, Tsavo Trust and the Association for Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries (APLRS) — for high-level meetings in Washington, D.C.

Our mission was clear: to advocate for increased U.S. financial support for African conservation efforts, with a special focus on charismatic species conservation — especially the critically endangered Eastern black rhino. This united coalition represents a significant milestone in large-scale conservation programs, as this is the first time ever that these three organizations presented as a united front to lobby the United States government. 

Our coalition was comprised of the following dream team: David Houghton, Director of WildLandscapes International; Cheryl Leonard, Senior Project Manager for WildLandscapes and a veteran of the USFWS; Jamie Gaymer, Conservation Manager at Ol Jogi and Chair of the Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries (APLRS); Justin Heath, CEO of Ol Pejeta; Richard Moller, CEO of Tsavo Trust; and two highly-skilled lobbyists, Cissy Jackson and Jeremy Bratt. 

During our time in D.C., we met with key members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to specifically target increases in funding from USAID, INL and the Multinational Species Fund. Additionally, we lobbied to change the grant terms to become less restrictive and require less overhead in order to allow smaller, community-led INGOs to access the U.S. federal funding more readily.

WildLandscapes formed this coalition because we understand that locally-driven conservation projects are the key to sustainable success that leads to biodiversity protection, environmental justice and carbon sequestration. Each of our partners have excellent models for conservation set in place; our goal is to help bring these models to scale. Furthermore, we believe that we are stronger together in the fight for conservation. In the words of Richard Moller,

Kenya has made impressive strides in curbing wildlife poaching, resulting in a growth in rhino populations. However, this success story has introduced a new challenge: rhino conservancies are running out of space. With rapidly increasing land use pressures stemming from an ever-growing human population, there is an urgent need to expand and connect habitats to accommodate the increasing rhino populations, protect historical migratory routes for elephants, and create opportunities that tangibly benefit the local communities. As the anchor species, the Eastern black rhino’s well-being reflects the health of the entire ecosystem. Through the formation of this coalition, we're not only protecting rhinos, but also the countless other species, ecosystems and people that rely on them. 

We recognize that conservation and humanitarian agendas are complexly intertwined, thus we must evolve our strategy to ensure sustainability. What we need is a multistakeholder approach that takes into account public-private partnerships as well as the needs of proximate communities, and delivers a clear voice for unilateral objectives.

In summary, our vision is to champion the unhindered movement of species and the establishment of interconnected landscapes, helping rhinos thrive in today’s changing world and preserving their genetic diversity for future generations.

We believe that these investments are some of the lowest cost opportunities to generate the highest goodwill globally for the U.S. Government. Increasing funding is a win-win for all. We're excited to report that our meetings with policymakers have been productive, setting us on a promising trajectory for increased U.S. federal funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. This brings us one step closer to our vision of a continuous wildlife corridor in Laikipia. By working together, we can secure ample habitat for these magnificent creatures.

We want to reaffirm and thank the U.S. Government for their continued support of these conservation efforts. The U.S. Government has invested a lot already in the Laikipia region, and we’re hopeful for what the coming years will bring. 

When asked how it feels to be lobby with fellow conservation actors rather than in a siloed fashion for his own conservancy, Justin Heath replied:

ABOUT THE LAIKIPIA REGION:

Nestled in East Africa, near the biologically rich Horn of Africa, the Laikipia-Meru-Samburu ecosystem stands as one of Kenya’s most vital wildlife landscapes. The region is home to an impressive 43% of Kenya’s critically endangered Eastern black rhino population and 80% of its southern white rhinos. It also sustains Kenya’s second-largest African elephant population–exceeding 7,000–and substantial populations of apex predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Moreover, Laikipia is a sanctuary for a wide array of ungulates, housing over 60% of the global populations of endangered species like Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe. It also supports Lelwel hartebeest, endangered Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and a bird community of over 400 species.