Nashulai is a recipient of the UNDP’s prestigious 2020 Equator Prize! The prize, for Indigenous peoples and local communities innovating nature-based solutions to climate change and for sustainable development. The Equator Initiative said “Nashulai Maasai Conservancy is at the forefront of a paradigm shift towards a mixed-use conservation model”
Founded in 28 November, 2016 Nashulai is still a very young Conservancy, bootstrapped into existence by the community. Nevertheless it has achieved some important milestones and generated great momentum in a very short time.
"We wanted to make a difference, to create a story of possibility, where people, wildlife, livestock, could coexist together just like how it was when I was growing up." - Nelson Ole Reiyia
“The biggest challenge facing wildlife today in Kenya is lack of space. There is no space for wildlife. The space that can be available is with the communities, but communities can only welcome animals into their land if they are also getting benefits.” - Nelson Ole Reiyia
Conservation Achievements:
Became a member in good standing with the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) and the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA)
Following a visit to Nashulai, conservation journalist John Mbaria wrote, “…I was amazed by the number of wild animals in Nashulai! …[While] we saw very few animals in the Mara National Reserve, they seem to be making Nashulai Conservancy their home. There were lots of elands, Topi, Thompson gazelles, wildebeest, zebra, a big number of towering giraffes and elephants…”
Giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, warthog and gazelle populations are at all-time highs, elephant herds (average size 20) pass through at least once a week; and a few months ago a pride of 5 lions and 4 male water buffalos made Nashulai their home
There have a return of rare and elusive species to Nashulai for the first time in living memory, including a pack of 10 cheetahs and sightings of 3 endangered African wild dogs
We are home to the largest population of the endangered Maasai Giraffe sub-species in the Eastern Mara
We’re starting to see a lot of animal births at Nashulai (that wouldn’t happen if the wildlife didn’t feel at home here). To date over 50 elephants have been birthed on Nashulai grounds along with hundreds of topis and impalas.
Community Achievements:
50 young Maasai are currently enrolled in the Nashulai Cultural Training Institute and we will be having our second graduation later this year.
To date, 60% of Nashulai members have successfully applied for loans due to the financial stability created by our conservancy
Created livelihoods related to Nashulai initiatives for over 50 community members thus providing reliable income that helps support the needs of, on average, about 20 family dependents – along with our our lease payments this is another large step in breaking the grip of poverty
Initiated a clean water program to pipe spring water to all the villages of Nashulai. 3,000 Maasai inside and outside Nashulai now have access to clean water and villages have both water and latrines. This has resulted in profound health benefits to the community, including a 50% reduction in waterborne diseases.
Attracted support and recognition from around the world:
Nashuli’s groundbreaking role was described conservation journalist John Mbaria as “the first ever comunity-owned conservancy … a unique achievement that promises to inspire positive change in the entire East Africa region.”
