Draw a painting of your preferred forest bird in your Maasai neighbourhood, write a song or poem and win the first train trip in your lifetime to Mombasa! A competition for 22 primary schools in the Masaai area in Kenya was held to involve and raise awareness amongst school children of the Loita-Purko Naimina Enkiyio Integrated Forest Conservation and Development Project.

Since the availability and frequency of birds are an indicator of ecosystem health and socio-cultural norms and practices, it was hoped to raise awareness of the overall state of the forest. The project is managed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and funded by the European Union.

In April 2006, the winner and the support team from Kuntai Primary School were taken to Mombasa to visit a greening programme undertaken by schools in Kwale District along the south coast of Kenya. For most of the participants, this was their first trip to Nairobi, the coast of Kenya, and to travel by train. Shortly after, the success of the project was demonstrated: based on the experience of the competition, the Kuntai Primary School has started a greening project amongst students.

The aim of the Loita-Purko Naimina Enkiyio Integrated Forest Conservation and Development Project amongst the Maasai in Kenya was to work with the local communities to help them own and manage their sacred forest. By doing so, they contribute to maintaining biodiversity and environmental values that provide for their cultural, spiritual, and socio-economic needs.

The competition was the last of the Loita-Purko project, before the World Conservation Union withdrew its support owing to serious conflict between sections of the local community who were against the project and those who were in full support of its activities.



Posted by: Kelly    Source