The Laikipia County, an expansive landscape (9,500km²), and the Greater Laikipia landscape (15,000km) are physically diverse and scenically spectacular, with grasslands, hills and forests. This ecosystem supports both herds of domesticated animals and wildlife, with wildlife population densities ranking 2nd to the world famous Maasai Mara.
In the face of population growth, invasive species, climate change, and poor land use, the rangelands are increasingly challenged and changing. Poorly managed lands and the loss of rangeland quality threaten conservation, people, livestock and livelihoods.
The Laikipia Forum has historically supported Holistic Management (HM) to address these issues. Based on proven techniques this rangeland management system aims to tackle the formidable task of bringing life back to bare ground and increasing the health and productivity of the grasslands.
More recently, the Forum has supported associations of land users that focus on private and community lands, encouraging greater engagement in conservation as a land use, spatial planning, management of invasive species, maintenance of livestock and wildlife dispersal areas and corridors, and a system of incentives that encourage best practices. HM is part of this, as is improved animal husbandry and livestock-to-markets, focused on value chains. Moreover, we support the future of these rangelands through the greater participation of indigenous peoples in the dialog that manages the landscape.
