Save Amboseli - Update 10th October 2005

In just 4 days the response to the Save Amboseli website, saveamboseli.net has been phenomenal!

Over 2,500 people have signed on, many offering comments and suggestions as to how to take the campaign forward.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has written in so far. I cannot write back in person but I hope to be able to write to some of you who have made suggestions as to how to support the campaign.

I have personally read every single one of the first 400 comments and have carefully put them into three groups.

Group A The comments that oppose the downgrading of the National Park (about 99% of the emails, of which the majority are from Kenya)

Group B The comments that are in favour of the downgrading (about 1% of the emails)

Group C Suggestions and Ideas (about 9% of the emails)

Here is, I hope, a fair and balanced representation from Group A indicating the country from which the comment was submitted:

"Yes it belongs to the community but we need it as a National Park" (Kenya)

"Let the decision be rescinded as fast as possible as it sets a bad precedent. Others will demand to be favoured ... and Kenya's National heritage will finally collapse forever." (Kenya)

"I would suggest a better formula in sharing of the Park revenue instead of a complete takeover. I am in Amboseli right now and you can already feel the impact because all the livestock is right at the core area. (Kenya)

"Having worked for years in Amboseli I know the community will never be able to conserve Amboseli. Very soon the Park will be full of livestock and the animals will be gone forever.... please let's tell the whole world to come to our assistance to save this invaluable heritage" (Kenya)

"Whether we are farmers or pastoralists, urban or rural dwellers, young or old, the natural areas of Kenya such as wetlands and forests provide innumerable and essential ecosystem services for all.... downgrading the Park is not the solution to historical injustices. We need to work together - communities, conservation bodies and government, so as to protect the natural resources that sustain enduring human enterprise and in fact our very own survival." (Kenya)

"We spent over $30,000 earlier this year on 2 weeks travel in Kenya and plan another such visit in the next 2 - 3 years which would include Amboseli. We would be very concerned at any downgrading of this very fragile area and ....sadly the wildlife that attracts families like mine to beautiful Kenya will surely be the ones which suffer." (Australia)

"I have just completed my 8th safari to Kenya; my favourite place of all is Amboseli NP. I cannot bear the thought of it becoming like the Masaai Mara." (UK)

"We visited Amboseli in March 2002 and plan to come again next year. I don't know that we would wish to spend our dollars on such a trip, however, given this move." (USA)

"The World is watching; the Kenya Government needs to know this." (UK)

Here are three of the comments submitted from Group B (I have not reproduced some of the most inflamatory language which would offend many people from all walks of life):

" The mzungus (white people) should realise that the Africans can manage their affairs well without their selfish exploitative input.... the white folk should leave Kenya or put up like other foreigners." (Kenya)

"Yes I support the downgrading of Amboseli National Park to a National Reserve to benefit the owners. Before the government took it illegally without following protocol. Why now follow (it) when it comes to returning (it) to its rightful owners?" (Kenya)

"How can KWS collect over $US 30m and the community who reside there are living in extreme poverty, you can't justify that, it is unfair and unjust.... the President should be supported for his effort trying to do the right thing for the indigenous people". (USA)

Here are just a few of the suggestions from Group C. May I ask that each and every visitor to www.saveamboseli.net considers these suggestions and sees which they can use or adapt in their own way to support the campaign and help address the issue.

• Writing to your friends and business colleagues to let them know about the campaign.
• Seeking to overturn the decision through the court system
• Making a donation to support the campaign (and possibly begin to address the financial needs to the poorest local people around Amboseli).
• Support the training of local people by the KWS so as to build up skills and capacity at a local level for conservation.
• Contact other conservation bodies such as wildlife societies and better zoos to gain their support and the support of their members for the campaign.
• Form a local conservation group called Friends of Amboseli.
• Make the campaign forms available in a form that can be printed and passed on to friends and colleagues who don't have a computer.
• Put on a fund-raising art show to raise funds to support the campaign.
  So, as you can see, many things to consider!

Finally, I will be honest with you. The issues surrounding the proposal to downgrade Amboseli National Park are complex and appear sadly to include a toxic mix of politics and finance. However, from all I have read some things seem very clear.

a) The decision has been taken in a manner that appears to be illegal. It is likely that the decision will be challenged in the court.

b) The future of Amboseli, and indeed all of Kenya's National Parks, must be primarily a matter for the people of Kenya. However, many citizens of the world feel deeply attached to this very special place.

c) The future of Amboseli's wildlife is inextricably bound up with the future of the people who live in the area. Finding a way of reconciling the needs of people and wildlife will be a challenge that must be met and it may take all our efforts to help reach the answer.

d) Whatever happens, surely Amboseli, its wildlife, its elephants and its people must survive otherwise we may as well pack our tents and fade away now.

Thank you friends. I have been travelling to Kenya since 1964, shortly after independence and have worked for the last two decades helping try to conserve one of the most important wildlife resources in the world. As a UK citizen I realise that over the last 300 years we in this country have largely lost our wild areas and many of our wildlife species, especially large mammals such as wolves, bears, lynx and more. I hope that other countries that still have many amazing creatures will not emulate our mistakes.

Importantly, I would like to state for the record I have nothing to gain financially whether Amboseli becomes a National Reserve or remains a National Park. I, together with my colleagues, have no 'agenda' beyond a desire to safeguard the future of one of the most important wildlife areas in the world.

I urge you all to do what you can to support what one correspondent described as 'another defining moment in the struggle to save what is left of our natural world'.

Thank you.

Will Travers
Born Free Foundation.

Please continue to check http://saveamboseli.net regularly for latest news and keep on campaigning!!

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