Save Amboseli

Dear Friends

As reported in the Born Free Foundation press release dated 13th October (see on this site), fears are growing that the precedent set by Amboseli will now ripple out across the rest of Kenya.

According to reports received by Born Free, Chyulu Hills National Park, in the south-east of Kenya, which was awarded National Park status only five years ago, has been occupied by members of the local community, demanding that they reclaim control over the Park.

Nyeri County Council has also reportedly applied to have the Aberdares National Park degazetted, while several communities from Coast Province, have apparently have asked that seven of the National Parks in the Province, including Tsavo, Shimba Hills, Arabuko Sokoke and Malindi/Watamu, be placed under their control.

I have received more than 6,000 emails on this issue, again many of them with comments. A number of these comments refer to the ripple-effect that the Amboseli situation has created. Again, for your information, I have separated the comments into three sections and once more approximately 99% of those I have received are against the downgrading of Amboseli while approximately 1% are in favour. I should also add that I have now received comments from the following countries:

Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia.

Group A - Those opposed to the downlisting

Kenya, by far and away the most heavily represented country, has sent nearly 30% of comments. Here are a few:

"The Maasai Mara should be used as an example, game reserves do not work. Given the kind of money they make in a year, why is the Reserve poorly run?" Kenya

"Animals before humans please. They were here first and without them I would be and thousands of others would be unemployed". Kenya

"I just so happened to visit Amboseli on the weekend of 28th September 2005. Most disappointing to see the amount of human movement in the Park. Sitting at the Serena viewing their waterhole, I saw more cattle and goats than game and was most disturbed to see game moving off when they arrived". Kenya

"We must protect Kenya's environment. It is for the benefit of our children and for the future of the country." Kenya

"Would Jomo Kenyatta have this done? I don't think so." Canada

Group B - Those in favour of the downlisting

"As a tourism student of Makerere University, I feel that the Park should be a National Reserve rather than just being a National Park. And it should be under its own management." Uganda

"No I am all for it. The Park belongs to the OCC. Thanks very much." USA

"I am curious why your organisation has not put up a fight to make the Maasai Mara Reserve a National Park. If the Masai Mara has been a failure then your organisation's silence has been deafening. But if the arrangement has been a success then the community and Amboseli must benefit just like those of the Mara". Kenya

Group C - Interesting comments or suggestions

"Invite President Kibaki to reply to the decision and clarify his motives". UK

"Set up a trust fund to benefit Masai from funds raised by the Park entry fees/percentage from lodge earnings and have it managed independently and governed by an independent society that has the interests of both parties in equal measure so that you have a win/win situation." Australia

"I am happy to support you and publish your views on my website." UK

"Urgently seek Judicial Review of the Ministerial Decision at the High Court. The decision is clearly "ultra vires" (against) the parent act of parliament." Germany

There have been loads more comments and suggestions and many of which are similar to those already set out on the first page of the Save Amboseli website. They come from a wide diversity of individuals and interest groups from Kenya's citizens to the tourism and travel sector, to travellers who are planning to go to Kenya.

Some have suggested that this matter should be taken up at governmental level particularly with countries that historically have invested heavily in saving Kenya's wildlife such as the UK and the USA. Here are three more.

"The principle of giving the management of the Amboseli eco-system to the Maasai community is not a bad one: in fact, it is probably the best way forward for the future. What is wrong is the way it has been done (no forethought, no planning, no establishment of an appropriate management strategy) and the reason it was done; pure party politics." Kenya

"A community-based project should be set up to benefit the Maasai, as in other areas such as Il Ngwesi. BUT the Park must not be downgraded. It would be a disaster for the wildlife." UK

"Amboseli National Park should be made an International Nature Reserve." UK

All three comments above develop a theme, that the local community around Amboseli, and by extension around National Parks, should receive a much more significant benefit from the wildlife resource living in their area. The last comment expands on the idea by suggesting that internationally recognised areas of global biodiversity significance could be treated as an international nature resource but in the form of a Nature Reserve. Perhaps, in such a way, they could be managed and supported for the benefit of the international community while at the same time, of course, recognising the sovereign independence of the nation in which they are located. Interesting.

Before I close with this update, I would just simply emphasise that so many of the emails I have received are personal expressions of deep concern and anguish at what appears to be unfolding in Amboseli and the sense of helplessness that goes with it.

The people who have written to the site recognise that decisions on the future of conservation in Kenya should, and indeed, must be made by Kenyans but what they and I am so deeply disturbed by is the method by which this process seems to be being applied. To that end, here is a summary of where matters stand, as I understand it.