-
Cheetah Sighting
Our rangers see wild cheetahs at least twice a month. I will probably see them twice in my lifetime. I had my first pass while driving through the sanctuary with the models for the third day of our photoshoot. As if they were waiting for the photographer, ready for their close up, they glided along the edge of the water tank silhouetting their sleek bodies against the morning skyline. Unfazed by our presence within their 15 feet radius, they went about their business of lounging in the dawn’s cool mist before the sun started baking the red Kenyan earth. Magnificent creatures.
-
Green Charcoal, a partial solution to natural resource degradation in East Africa
By Jimmy Eggers, Special Projects Director, WWC On a worldwide basis, the destruction or degradation of forest vegetation by slash and burn agriculture and timber harvest is the largest contributor to increased CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. This is more than manufacturing emissions, machine exhaust emissions, and petrochemical by-product emissions combined. So by extension, some might say that forest resource misuse is the primary problem to be solved when looking at our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, and thereby improve our climate change outlook. In East Africa, a major portion of forest degradation is done by persons engaged in charcoaling. Charcoaling is a production process whereby indigenous hardwood trees and shrubs…
-
Wildlife Works Eco Tourism Partner Camps International Win Eco-Warrior Award
Camps International Win Eco-Warrior Award On Thursday 25th November 2010 Camps International (CI) and more specifically Camp Kenya were awarded the Eco-Warrior Award for the Most Sustainable Community Based Tourism Enterprise in East Africa. The Eco-Warrior Awards were launched by Ecotourism Kenya in 2005 as part of their drive to broaden industry understanding of responsible tourism and are assessed against four main criteria; outstanding innovation, real achievements, sustainability of the initiative and its replicability. This has to be achieved whilst respecting the environment, local people and cultures, and linking with communities to positively empower economies and promote self-sufficiency and environmental governance. In the words of Ecotourism Kenya; ‘Camp Kenya partners,…
-
Indigenous Tree Seedling Distribution Program November 2010
By Silvester Mkamaganga, Forester Wildlife Works Carbon – 25th November 2010 TREE SEEDLINGS DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM INTRODUCTION The seedlings, which have been bought from the community in the project area and nurtured in our green house to the right size to be planted in different degraded sites around to conform with the REDD’s concept. Objectives The objective of this activity was to distribute tree seedlings to different sites to be planted as to meet the objective of restoring degraded land and afforestation. Tree seedlings distribution Marungu Hill Conservancy approached different schools and community members, selling the idea of tree planting and doing quotations on the amount of tree seedling each sites needs.…
-
Indigenous Tree Seedling Collection – A Call for Partnership
We would like to let everyone know that twice a year before the rains we will be buying tree seedlings from the Communities. This will provide a small but much needed income to the people who live here and an important stock of hardwood and indigenous trees for reforesting badly degraded areas. The seedlings need to be at least 6 inches long (15 cms) tall and can be presented to us in any container ….old water bottles, old plastic bags, or even a coconut shell. We will collect the seedlings from various collection points around the communities, these collection points and dates will be decided closer to the time. TREE…
-
Luangwa River Valley in Zambia
By Mike Korchinsky, founder of Wildlife Works. Oct 28 2010 I went to the Luangwa River Valley in Zambia last week…these photos were taken by the owner during the wet season…I was there at the end of the dry season…can you say CARBON… This is what it looks like dry: and finally, the threat: * * * * * * * * * About Wildlife Works Carbon: Wildlife Works is the world’s leading REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), project development and management company with an effective approach to applying innovative market based solutions to the conservation of biodiversity. REDD+ was originated by the United Nations (UN) to help…
-
The Rukinga Community
July 10, 2010: by Joyce Hu, Creative Director for Wildlife Works Retail: Lara drove us around to see more of the surrounding communities (which makes up about 45,000 people) who directly or indirectly benefit from our business and social programs. This is a community library made possible by the leadership of a couple Peace Corps volunteers, Amanda and Kate. Now, they just need money to build then sustain some after school programs. Before this library, the kids had nowhere to go after school to study, commune, seek support in an educational environment. They would just loiter around and get in different kinds of trouble. The school district this library serves…
-
Wildlife Works Factory
July 10, 2010: by Joyce Hu, Creative Director for Wildlife Works Retail: I started today working with the factory manager, Daniel, to develop the patterns I want to launch with this winter. I briefly met the women working in the factory – there are about 10 right now. They are busy with a big order for ASOS in London. The factory has produced product for many of the big eco fashion labels such as Loomstate and EDUN. White label business is always less desirable because their work is dependent on the clients’ pricing, business, etc. The main goal of this factory is to create and sustain skilled jobs for the…
-
Community Newsletter September 2010
This is our third newsletter of a series in which we would like to take the opportunity to inform our neighbours and the local community about the activities of Wildlife Works Carbon (WWC). WWC is an exciting new arm of Wildlife Works that aims to access the growing global carbon market for the benefit of Kenyans. WILDLIFE WORKS FACTORY EPZ In conjunction with Wildlife Works Carbon, based on Rukinga Ranch is Wildlife Works Factory EPZ. The EPZ was setup in 2001 and the construction of a clothing factory was started. The aim of the factory was to create local employment opportunities, and training for local craftsmen and women. Mr. Daniel…
-
Community Newsletter August 2010
This is our second newsletter of a series in which we would like to take the opportunity to inform our neighbors and the local community about the activities of Wildlife Works Carbon (WWC). Many of you have heard of Wildlife Works Ltd, which has worked at Rukinga Ranch for the last 10 years since February 2000 to provide jobs and protect the environment. WWC is an exciting new arm of Wildlife Works that aims to access the growing global carbon market for the benefit of Kenyans. SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES THIS MONTH: Eric Sagwe (Head Ranger) from Wildlife Works Carbon at a Maungu Clean up Day MAUNGU CLEAN…