Rosebell Abwonji (ELP 2024) | Former Chief Administrative Officer, Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, Kenya
I am convinced that I have the best view in the whole world. Picture this: rambling plains and hills covered in grasslands, dotted with acacia trees and untamed bushes. The distinct litany of bird calls breaking through the pristine, crisp air as the sun melts down in a fiery ball at the distant horizon. An elephant slowly makes its way across my view, picking up some fruit for nourishment as it keeps a careful eye on its calf. Far away, I can pick up the clang of a bell – a sign that the livestock are getting back home after grazing. Curling black smoke rises up from the stocks of burnt wood as my neighbors begin to prepare their evening meal. I take a deep breath in as I witness this spectacle – peaceful coexistence of an ecosystem that supports us all.
A good friend of mine describes home as the place where they are happy. For the past seven years I have had the privilege of calling the Maasai Mara just that.
Working in the conservation sector was never in the cards for me. I grew up with big dreams of becoming a published writer, traversing across the globe to capture stories. However, through an unusual twist of events, I found myself stepping into a role in a community-based conservation organization, working at the forefront with indigenous communities striving to protect their ecosystem. Slowly the dimensions of their realities began to unfurl as I experienced the unique challenges that they had to face on a day-to-day basis.
The Maasai community are the stewards of the greater Mara ecosystem. For generations they have understood how to utilize the natural resources around them sustainably. As the tension of modern demands builds pressure on the environment, the communities have set up conservancies to protect biodiversity within the land, forming strategic partnerships with private investors to build incentives that allow for diversified livelihoods projects. These conservancies – governed by established institutions – provide pathways for community members to receive capacity building on how to manage the conservancies, integrating diversity in traditional structures through the inclusion of women and youth. Innovative explorations through technology, such as EarthRanger, provides data-based evidence to guide policy makers and other key stakeholders on how to better plan for the management of the natural resources.
On the surface, the vision of peaceful coexistence appears effortless. However, the sacrifices these communities carry to accomplish this vision are profound. Every day they come face to face with situations such as human wildlife conflict, encroachment of protected areas, competing land use systems, and limited resources – amongst a myriad of other trials. Through my work I have interacted with the youth, wrestling with the challenges that they face. I find myself riddled with discovering a solution that ensures this environment remains safe in the hands of the next generation.
To truly recognize indigenous communities as agents of change of climate solutions, we must first redesign our approach to systems thinking. Decision making organs need to be tailored to provide a participatory approach of diverse stakeholders. Communication barriers such as the use of native language can be overcome by the use of artificial intelligence. Funding organs must decolonize power systems to promote community driven solutions. Co-creation needs to be embedded in project management composition.
Young people must play a more participatory role for them to gain the understanding and knowledge to manage natural resources. Through managing an internship program, I have worked closely with the youth from these communities, gaining insights on their perspectives of how these issues affect their home. They are able to effectively bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern technologies, allowing their communities to innovate against mounting external pressure.
As I look ahead at the future of conservation for the Maasai Mara, as well as the rest of Africa, my hope lies in designing systems that allow us to build inclusive structures, which amplify the voices of underrepresented communities. The survival of tomorrow depends on it – a coexistence that transcends us all.