Kenya Conservation Concept

Kenya’s new “conservancy” conservation concept provides local communities jobs, income, and a brighter future.

17:04 06 August 2015

“The conservancy concept” is an alternative approach to wildlife conservation in Kenya and one of the people behind the movement is Jake Grieves-Cook, the son of British emigrants to Kenya, who is committed to helping create a sustainable future for animals, local communities, and the environment as well as visitors in the country.  

 

Jake’s parents moved to Africa in 1948. He grew up and went to school in Kenya and has been involved in the country’s safari tourism for over 40 years.

 

Explaining the concept, he said: “The conservancy concept enables landowners to benefit from allowing their land to be set aside for wildlife and to earn a regular monthly income stream from rents paid per acre for their plots of land,” he said, “as well as to have employment opportunities for their family members as rangers in the conservancies and through staffing the camps.”

 

“It provides an expanded area of protected habitat for the wildlife where tourist numbers are strictly controlled through our formula of no more than 12 guest tents per camp and a maximum of 1 tent per 700 acres and 1 tourist vehicle per 1400 acres. And it provides an enhanced safari experience for visitors with high-quality guiding and excellent wildlife viewing away from the tourist crowds.”