Invasive species in Amboseli, Tsavo and Nakuru NPs had covered large areas of wildlife habitat, displaced native biodiversity, reduced favorable forage, affected wildlife distribution and lessened visitor enjoyment. In each park, KWS staff worked with local people and other scientists to identify invasive species, their impact on wildlife, strategies for early detection, and mechanisms for control and eradication. Special focus was given to species that were growing fast, breeding profusely, dispersing widely and outgrowing native species. Areas of heavy infestation were mapped and divided into blocks to enable systematic control. Mechanical removal was preferred over chemical-based eradication to minimize risks to non-target species. KWS organized volunteer groups from local institutions and communities to mechanically uproot invasive plants from designated areas. In some cases local people were hired to work in difficult areas. The uprooted trash was either burnt in abandoned quarries or buried to prevent re-invasion. Plots were revisited for three growing seasons and regrowth removed.

Before creating the contracts, a conceptual model and results chain was created. This model clearly outlines how actions will result in addressing the identified threats, and what indicators will be used to monitor the progress towards goals. This is the fundamental step in creating a solid model that clearly addresses threats and identifies how the actions will affect change.

The environmental education program promotes social awareness about the importance of ecosystems goods and environmental services.The educational project in the village school integrates an emphasis on ethno hydro-biological resources

Restoring degraded habitats aimed to enhance ecosystem resilience in five key national parks that collectively provide ecosystem services to more than half of Kenya’s population and rank among the top ten tourist destinations in the country. Restoration focused on areas already earmarked for rehabilitation in park management plans. Exclosure blocks approximately 100 ha in degraded areas were fenced off using solar powered electric fences to exclude wildlife and allow regeneration. Fence structure and design were based on site-specific conditions and the level of risk of damage by large herbivores. Seedlings from native species were provided by KWS, the local communities or purchased from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and planted within the exclosures to supplement natural regeneration. At least one modern tree nursery was established within each park and where possible, in the neighboring community areas to support long-term supply of seedlings. Interpretive signs were displayed at restored sites for public information. Game viewing tracks were extended to some of such areas to showcase the benefits of restoration.

The project used one very simple and clear contract to lay out the benefits each community and family member would earn as a result of their conservation efforts. The contracts were about one page long and were written in an easy language for villagers to understand, with prices for wildlife sightings clearly written for everyone to see. Approval by the village chief alone—a convenient and traditional protocol—was avoided because of the underlying premise of the model that all potential hunters need to be included equally in sharing benefits and responsibilities. The contracts were, instead, signed by a representative from every family in each community to ensure that everyone understood their potential benefits and required commitment. The contract was also not simply read out loud in each community, but instead there was a question and answer session to gauge villagers’ understanding and help them visualize the system.

Surveillance of all conducted activities monitoring actions in the Agreement framework Control possible illegal fishing. These activities are discussed and analyzed by the coordination committee ( community and park members)

Wildlife in Amboseli and Tsavo national parks invade community lands during drought periods in search of water while people drive their livestock into the parks in search of pasture. These inverse wildlife-livestock movements usually result in intense human wildlife conflict. The project focused on creating water reservoirs in parks and community areas that could conserve rain water for 4-6 months into the dry season, allowing wildlife and livestock to utilize different parts of the landscape over longer periods and reducing the need for wildlife and livestock to cross park boundaries. Suitable areas for capturing rain water were identified and dams and water pans were excavated. These included rehabilitating some old dams that used to be fed from streams and rivers that had dried up. In addition, important swamps that provide water to wildlife and communities throughout the year were identified and fenced off to reduce degradation due to overuse. Water was pumped into water troughs constructed outside the fence to ensure sustained supply to people, livestock and wildlife. Trees were planted along the swamps to reduce soil erosion.

This building block involves everything related to producing your tourism product. It is recommended that a private sector partner possessing the appropriate market focus and experience in ecotourism be selected before embarking on tourism development in order to ensure long-term sustainability. Our model suffered as a result of not having a partner from the start, putting all responsibility for marketing and tour operation on the project. Selecting and training village tourism service group members is the next important step, and should be done with involvement of community leaders, the local government tourism agency and the private sector partner. Contracts with service group members can be used to create incentives for good service and protection of wildlife. Infrastructure should be built as a community project to instill maximum ownership. A cost effective, high impact marketing tool is a ‘familiarization trip(s)’ for tour companies and journalists, in contrast to printing brochures. Word of mouth is the most important factor and is ultimately determined by a unique and well thought out product.

The implementation process contributes to: the environmental regulation of the sub-region, reinforce the inter-institutional and community work, bringing together more than 35 participating stakeholders from various government agencies, NGOs and community organizations, in order to advocate for the well-management of hydro biological and fisheries resources, where ecosystem conservation and welfare of local communities would be beneficial.

As people cannot adapt to climate change without first having the capacity to do so, the project aimed at equipping a broad range of partners with knowledge and skills necessary for effective implementation of adaptation actions. The main target groups comprised KWS staff and local communities. Specific areas of training included methods and techniques of ecological restoration, management of modern tree nurseries, including seedling production and propagation. Others were reforestation techniques, invasive species identification, control and management, water quality and quantity monitoring, and fence maintenance. Training was provided at individual, institutional and community levels and was done either through formal institutions or on-the-job training. The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) provided specialized training to KWS and community groups in establishment and management of tree nurseries, reforestation, and invasive species management. Most volunteer groups received on-the-ground training from KWS staff and other relevant professionals and technicians