Kenya Assignment- Combating Wildlife Trafficking

The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) is an umbrella organization of 33 community conservancies seeking to provide good governance and natural resource conservation. The conservancies stretch across the arid and semi-arid landscape of northern Kenya and along the Tana River delta, protecting iconic species such as elephants, rhino, giraffe, cheetah, Grevy’s zebra, hirola, and oryx.

In coordination with USAID/Kenya and East Africa, DOI-ITAP deployed a multi-disciplinary team of five DOI specialists to NRT to conduct a preliminary assessment. The DOI-ITAP team included expertise in research, modeling, monitoring, geographic information systems, security/law enforcement, tourism development, and rangeland management. 

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    DOI-ITAP Team- (from left to right): James Ikalo, Stephanie Romañach, Bart Young, Chuck Noll, Mark Nebel, and Brian St George.

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya Assignment- Combating Wildlife Trafficking

    Priscilla Lalampaa (Project Coordinator), Moses Lolpusike (NRT Assistant Rangelands Officer), and Joseph Lopsala (NRT Senior Rangelands Officer) showed the DOI-ITAP team some of the ecological restoration efforts at Kalama Conservancy. Photo Credit: Stephanie Romanach

    Kenya Assignment- Combating Wildlife Trafficking

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    Ben Wandago (USAID) explaining some of the Kalama Conservancy restoration challenges. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya -Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    At a meeting held at the Mpala Research Center, a working group discusses current state of knowledge of natural resources (e.g., water, rangelands) and group discusses current state of knowledge of natural resources (e.g., water, rangelands) and gaps in knowledge. Stephanie Romañach participated along with NRT staff.

    Kenya -Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    At a meeting held at the Mpala Research Center, a working group discusses data availability, accessibility, and gaps. Stephanie Romañach participated along with NRT staff.

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    At a meeting held at the Mpala Research Center, Agnes Keshine (Laikipia County Government) presents a working group's vision for land-use planning in the region. Stephanie Romañach participated along with NRT staff. Photo credit: Stephanie Romanach

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    Two male impalas testing their strengths.Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    Defassa waterbuck near Lewa House. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    Male cheetah preparing for a hunt on Lewa Conservancy. His brother was nearby to help with the hunt. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    Two brother cheetahs preparing for a hunt. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    The DOI-ITAP team met with the KWS Senior Warden of Marsabit National Park to learn about the challenges for protected area management in the region such as the influx of livestock because of lack of water outside the park. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    The DOI-ITAP assessment team visited Songa Community Conservancy, where they met with several of the board members and the conservancy manager. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    The DOI-ITAP assessment team visited Songa Community Conservancy, where they met with several of the board members and the conservancy manager. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    The DOI-ITAP assessment team visited Songa Community Conservancy, where they met with several of the board members and the conservancy manager. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    Two giraffes moving through Lewa Conservancy, near NRT headquarters. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

  • Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust

    African savanna elephant with her young calf. Photo Credit: Brian St. George

    Kenya- Assessment of Needs for the Northern Rangelands Trust