This is one of the presenation I gave in Wasgington DC at WWF US, during my November 2009 tour of the US where I talked about the the Buhsmeat probelm in East Africa at various venues including JGI, FWS, USAID.

1. BUSHMEAT SOLUTIONS
USING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO COMBAT THE BUSHMEAT PROBLEM
IN THE TSAVO ECOSYSTEM
Project Manager: Iregi Mwenja
Project Duration: Aug. 2009 – July 2010
A presentation to WWF 19th November 2009
MONSANTO FUND

2. WHAT IS BUSHMEAT
The bushmeat trade is the illegal overhunting of wildlife for
meat and income.
Demand in East Africa is driven by;
Rapidly increasing human populations,
Escalating poverty,
Prevailing famine,
Political chaos,
Weak law enforcement,
Inadequate awareness
High food prices - GFC

3. USFWS MENTOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Wildlife Without Borders – Africa Cooperative Agreement:
1. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS),
2. College of African Wildlife Management- Mweka, Tanzania (Mweka),
3. Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG)
A "Model” Mentored Fellowship Program (ww.mentorfellowshipprogram.org)
multidisciplinary, academic and field-based professional development
training approach that engaged experts to collaboratively train a team
of working professionals
team works together to lead efforts to reduce illegal bushmeat
exploitation at local, national, and regional levels in eastern Africa.

4. The Bushmeat-free Eastern Africa Network
(BEAN), an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional
network consisting of different stakeholders, that
emerged out of the MENTOR Program to implement
and expand upon efforts on illegal bushmeat
exploitation developed through the training.
www.bushmeatnetwork.org

5. ONGOING BEAN ACTIVITIES
1. Protein and income alternative
Katavi (poultry)
Murchison falls ( Livestock)
Tsavo (fish/chicken)
2. Law enforcement
Masai Mara, Murchison, Boma, Serengeti
3. Education/awareness
1. Tsavo, Masai Mara

6. ASSESSMENT FINDINGS?
Assessment findings
At least 50% wildlife decline in last 30 years
Bushmeat No. one direct cause of wildlife loss
Bushmeat trade supports unmet needs for income and
protein among the poor
Economic incentives for private
land owners to protect wildlife
outside PAs is essential

7. Project location

8. WHY TSAVO WEST
Degradation of the L. Jipe and its catchment resulted in;
Loss of lake & basin’s ecological and socio-economic values
Collapse of the fisheries industries in last decade
The problem is exacerbated;
high population growth rate - immigration
High squatter population
Human wildlife conflict
Drought

9. PROJECT GOAL
Overall Objective
Reduce the illegal trade in bushmeat in Taveta and the
surrounding areas
Specific Objectives
To raise awareness on the illegal bushmeat trade.
To build the capacity of local CBOs on fish farming.
To enhance access to competitively priced alt. protein
Develop customized bushmeat education materials
Train environmental educators on bushmeat education

10. KEY ACTIVITIES
Training on alternative sustainable livelihoods
Bushmeat education outreach
Training for Bushmeat educators
Development of customized bushmeat education materials for
Tsavo
Initiating alternative protein projects – fish farming and chicken
production

11. ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
Training workshop on livelihoods and institutional capacity
strengthening for 10 CBOs
Five Fish farming project initiated/ rehabilitated.
Three CBOs have already received fish fingerlings
Bushmeat awareness outreach activities done
200 copies of Swara donated to schools
Bushmeat play developed and played on Kenyatta day

12. ONGOING ACTIVITIES
1. Fish pond rehabilitation in Mrabani, Mahoo, Ndarajani and
Kiwalwa
2. Training for bushmeat Educators
3. Chicken vaccination against ND
4. More education outreach
5. More education materials
6. Construction of a hatchery

13. CHALLENGES
1. High cost of constructing/rehabilitating concrete fish
ponds
2. High cost of fingerlings only available in Mombasa 350 km
away
3. Inadequate of information on the implementation
conservation and development projects

16. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Donors;
USFWS – Training and
Education project Grant
Monsanto Fund - Alternative
protein and income project
CBOL – Travel bursary to
Mexico/DC
Project Partners;
1. KWS
2. Fisheries department
3. WSPA
4. Veterinary department
Others include; Herbert R, Sarah B, Richard R, Kaka A,
5. KWFT
Natalie B. Becha H, 6. DSWT

17. Thank you
for listening