Act Now
If we act now, we can ensure a better future for the planet, its wildlife and people.
Campaign With Us
Since inception, we have been campaigning for nature and we passionately continue to do so with your support because nature is important for our planet’s survival. You can be a part of this noble commitment to safeguarding wildlife and natural habitats in East Africa. Join our campaigns and help us persuade decision-makers to consider conserving nature for posterity.
Support these campaigns:
Support Rangers Putting out Wildfires in Kirisia Forest
Kirisia Community Forest Association (CFA) scouts are combing the forest day and night to keep surveillance for the rampant forest fire incidents.
Donate to Save Kirisia Dryland Forest
With over two consecutive years of ravaging droughts in Kenya, wildfires are increasingly becoming a common phenomenon threatening our forests and wildlife. Since the beginning of 2023, there have been frequent wildfires in most parts of the country, and Kirisia Forest is not spared.
Kirisia Forest Reserve is a gazetted forest located in the arid and semi-arid Samburu County, in the northern parts of Kenya. The forest is in the proximity of Mararal town, which is 340-470 Km from Nairobi. It is managed by the Kenya Forest Service in collaboration with Kirisia Community Forest Association. Covering 91,944 ha, Kirisia is a critical wildlife dispersal route in northern Kenya, rich in biodiversity and provides diverse ecosystem goods to the local community including pasture, water, herbal medicine, honey and fuelwood, among others. During the past two years of drought, the forest has sustained millions of livestock, which is the mainstay for the pastoralists living adjacent to the forest.
The forest, however, faces multiple threats including illegal logging, poaching and deforestation, among others. A 2010 REDD+ assessment study by CAMCO reported that the forest had reduced from the 91,944 ha at the time of gazettement to about 78,000 ha by 2010. With the increasing temperatures, the wild fire are driving further forest loss at an unprecedented levels.
Kirisia Community Forest Association scouts are combing the forest day and night to keep surveillance for the rampant forest fire incidents. The wildfires if not abated in a timely fashion, could reverse the gains made so far in restoring the forest and is likely to drive biodiversity loss and exacerbate the impacts of climate change.
Putting out wildfires have not been without challenges. The scouts lack enough means of transport (vehicle, motorbikes and fuel), communication, camping and firefighting equipment to allow for effective, coordinated and timely response to the fire incidents that are now occurring almost daily.
The donation received will go towards procuring equipment for scouts, food ration, recruiting more scouts and supporting the CFA to conduct community sensitisation missions.
Support the Forest Rehabilitation Programme
The Forest Rehabilitation Programme aims at raising funds for the restoration of at least 600 hectares (equivalent to planting at least 600,000 trees) of the country’s key water towers between the year 2021 and 2030
About the Forest Rehabilitation Programme
Forest Challenge event is held every year and has attracted increasing interest and action among corporates and individuals. The FC event is organised by EAWLS in partnership with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kijabe Forest Volunteers (KENVO) and is vital in creating awareness on importance of conserving forests. The resources raised from the event guarantees continuity of the Forest Rehabilitation Programme.
‘The Forest Rehabilitation Programme aims at raising funds for the restoration of at least 600 hectares (equivalent to planting at least 600,000 trees) of the country’s key water towers between the year 2021 and 2030’.
Direct partnership with individual corporates compliments and ensures the success of the Forest Rehabilitation Programme by contributing funds used exclusively for acquiring and growing the tree seedlings.
The tree planting model of empowering the communities by engaging them directly through the Community Forest Association (CFA) in planting and nurturing trees while allowing them to cultivate crops in the planted areas has ensured appreciation, buy-in and ownership guaranteeing social fences for the rehabilitated sites.
Joint monitoring of the sites by CFAs and KFS ensures timely adaptive actions in the planted sites warrants high survival rates. The rehabilitated sites are handed over to KFS for long term protection from illegal activities such as illegal logging.
Lake Ol Bolossat Project
Involved in drawing a Draft Management Plan for Lake Ol Bolossat with the County Government of Nyandarua.
Strengthening the Management and Protection of Lake Ol Bolossat, Kenya
Lake Ol Bolossat is the only natural lake in Central Kenya and one of the very few highland lakes in the world. It is lcated in in Nyandarua Count and forms part of the larger Ewaso Ngiro North Basin which straddles nine counties in Kenya and supports the livelihoods of approximately four (4) million people from upstream, middle and downstream.
Covering approximately 4303.6 ha, the lake is Kenya’s 61st Important Bird Area and is recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area by BirdLife International.
The lake is also home to around 96 species of invertebrates, 7 species of fish and six other mammalian species besides hippopotamuses. A waterfowl census in Lake Ol Bolossat conducted in January 2018 counted a total of 14, 423 individuals.
Despite the economical, social and ecological importance, the lake is in the verge of drying up threatening the local livelihood, economy and biodiversity. These was attributed to lack of legal protection, poor stakeholders’ coordination, low awareness about the lake and its importance, among others.
This project aimed at elevating the lake’s conservation status to enhance its protection; creating awareness about the importance of the lake; harnessing partnerships and synergies for better management of the lake through co-management.
Accomplishments:
- The Lake designated as a wetland protected area by the Government of Kenya through a legal notice No. 178 of 2018.
- Rapid Biodiversity Survey conducted and findings disseminated;
- Brochure profiling the lake developed and publicised to raise more awareness about the lake
- Lake Ol Bolossat Integrated Management Plan (2020 – 2030) ratified.
- Lake Ol Bolossat Community Conservation Group (LOCCOG) formed and registered to operate in Kenya. The Group coordinates community-led conservation activities in the lake and its surrounding.
Lake Ol-Bolossat is the only natural Lake in Mt. Kenya and it lies between the Aberdare Ranges and Dundori Ridge.
The lake was gazetted as a Wetland Protected Area in 2015, effectively, title deeds for the land stand dissolved. Lake Ol Bolossat was re-gazetted in 2019 and it is a fully protected Wetland.
For years, the Lake has been a tourist destination center but this is slowly changing as the lake's beauty has been greatly destroyed by illegal herders drawn from neighboring counties of Isiolo Laikipia, Samburu and Baringo.
Speaking to the press, voluntary Environmentalist Wachira Njari alleged that some prominent individuals have grabbed the land making it hard for the lake to rejuvenate.
He added that despite their recent suggestion of the lake being given to KWS, nothing has happened and this has become a major contributing factor to the lake drying up.
Area residents Manasse Muthui and John Maina added that the drastic change has led to the lake drying up and this has greatly affected the beauty of the lake as the wildlife there have disappeared making it to lose its value.
The problem is becoming worse each day since unknown herders from neighboring counties have camped there with their livestock and there is no action taken against them since they're are perceived to be protected by wealthy persons somewhere.
It is their call for the national government together with the county government to address this issue during the upcoming World WetLands Day and to take an immediate action to rescue this lake by fencing to address encroachment and roaming hippos, an all-inclusive management plans, rehabilitation of the catchment areas, and regulation of irrigation projects.
The residents further want the lake to be given back to KWS as it is the only governing body that will protect this great lake
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How Can You Help?
There are many ways you can raise funds to support our work. For every fundraising activity you organize, we will provide you with a certificate of appreciation. Your fundraising activity can earn you complimentary membership in recognition of your efforts. If you would like to raise funds on our behalf, kindly send us an email on info@eawildlife.org.
Fundraising Ideas
Birthday Gifting
Event Fundraiser
Yard Sales
Other Ways to Get Involved
Become an EAWLS Representative
Become an EAWLS Representative
Are you looking to volunteer part of your time in supporting a worthy cause?
You can join us by becoming a representative of the East African Wild Life Society in your country. This will require direct and active involvement in carrying out special responsibilities assigned to you to support our work in your country.
Email us today and express your intention of becoming an EAWLS representative.
Volunteer
Volunteer
Are you an expert in Environment and Natural Resource Management or any other field of relevance to us? Are you a graduate or a student pursuing a relevant cause and would like to volunteer for us?
You can volunteer for us as a researcher or support our activities with your expertise. Your time and resources are valuable to us.
Email us today and express your interest in volunteering for us.
Explore volunteering opportunities here
Write for SWARA Magazine
Write for SWARA Magazine
Are you a writer or do you have an article you would like to publish in the SWARA Magazine? You can volunteer an article or become a frequent article contributor to our SWARA Magazine. We have interests in conservation articles for the region of Eastern Africa including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Seychelles.
Email us today and express your interest in writing for SWARA Magazine.
Donate Wildlife Images
Donate wildlife images
Are you a professional wildlife photographer with original images of nature and wildlife found in Africa? Donate your images to support our work. We will use them to produce the SWARA Magazine, Calendars and Postcards.
We will credit you as the photographer
All images must be original and of high resolution.
Email us today and express your interest in donating wildlife images to EAWLS.
Join a Forum
Kenya Forests Working Group (KFWG) is a valuable source of social and political change that facilitates the democratization process that provides an enabling policy and legislative environment for sustainable natural resources and, in particular the forest sector. Since its inception, KFWG has been an invaluable vehicle through which the Kenya citizens have participated and influenced public affairs on the conservation of forests through advocacy and empowerment. KFWGs role has evolved from just being an independent government watchdog for enhanced transparency and accountability over management of forest resources to a reliable partner promoting development in the forest sector.
Learn more information about KWFG on https://www.kenyaforests.org and Join this forum today to add your voice on forest conservation matters.
The Kenya Wetland Forum (KWF) provides an effective mechanism where stakeholders congregate to brainstorm, consult and update each other, formulate targeted actions, provide important linkages, facilitate partner-to-partner support, advocate for the development of supporting legislation to the sub-sector among other activities as a response to wetland related challenges. Join this forum today and give your views on topical issues of wetlands.
Kenya Wildlife Conservation Forum (KWCF) was created to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders. KWCF provides a platform to discuss wildlife issues dealing with economic incentives; compensation for livestock, crop and human losses; land-use and land-use planning; how people living in wildlife zones want critical issues addressed and wildlife versus other biodiversity. Join this forum today and give your views on topical issues of wildlife.
Imre Loefler conservation Talks were named in honor and recognition of Dr. Imre Loefler’s achievements to save the Ngong Forest Sanctuary from encroachment and destructive development activities and his diligent support for the work of the East African Wild Life Society.
These talks attract experts in various fields of conservation who make interesting presentations about conservation related topics including insects and their impact on nature, forests, wildlife, marine and wetlands. It is attended by a wide array of people.
Join this forum today and participate in these talks as a presenter or participant.
