Enhancing Climate Resilience: People and Wildlife

As wonderful supporters of Ol Pejeta’s project to enhance climate resilience, we are thrilled to update that the rains have arrived on the conservancy in their plenty once again! For the landscape this means a dramatic transformation from the dusty, cracked, and desperate scenes reminiscent with our dry season, into a lush green oasis. Rivers are flowing, grasses have grown, and flowers are flowering. This in turn has brought a burst of life to the wildlife with relieved faces all round.

Traditionally, weather patterns in Kenya are cyclical, with two rainy seasons (November – December, March – May) and two droughts a year (January – March, and June – October). But as I’m sure you’re aware, extreme weather patterns and extended drought periods (+40 years) have tested the resolve and resilience of both people and wildlife. Ol Pejeta has been working hard to support these efforts, focusing on water sustainability through harvesting, storing and connectivity - a strategic water management approach that mitigates the devastating impacts of drought on both wildlife and livestock, ensuring their continued survival.

Since the last update, we are pleased to announce the completion of three new dams. The Kibet Dam, Tanki Nyeusi Dam, and Marbe Dam are now essential components of this strategy. Designed with sustainability at their core, their strategic placement within the conservancy serves a dual purpose: to provide consistent and reliable water sources for both animals and local communities, and to support the thriving ecosystem within our conservancy. These new dams will act as reservoirs, collecting and storing water during periods of abundance and releasing it as needed during future dry spells.

Elsewhere, we have encountered challenges due to the heavy rains in the last couple of weeks, and the subsequent torrents of water, resulting in fence breaks and some flooding in low-lying areas of the conservancy. Our team is actively working to repair the damaged fences and mitigate any further issues.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Your contributions are the driving force behind our conservation efforts, and together, we are making a real difference for the environment, the people and wildlife who call this beautiful corner of Kenya their home. In this instance, the saying "no news is good news" couldn’t be truer. All of our wildlife is thriving. The absence of significant news or crises brings hope for the long-term success of sustainable water solutions, and we welcome this silence as a sign that we are on the right path. Thank you for standing with us.