There are a diversity of institutional
arrangements and forums in the Greater Mara Ecosystem, and an
increasing
number of community wildlife conservancies and
landowner associations are being established
around the Reserve. These institutions include the
Masai Mara Management Association, a number of
associations
in the Koiyaki and Lemek areas, including the
recently developed Olare Orok and Motoroki
con-
servancies, and various group ranch associations.
Some of these conservancies and associations already
cover
significant blocks of land, and plans are afoot
for both the expansion of existing wildlife conservancies
and
the creation of new ones throughout the greater
ecosystem. Good communication between MMMR
management
and these community institutions is important to
ensure that any support provided by management
to improve conservation in the wider ecosystem
(discussed below under Objective 4) is well directed, and
to
enable all parties to exchange information of
mutual concern, regarding, for example, illegal activities such
as
poaching or livestock rustling, or outbreaks of
wildfires or animal disease. MMNR management will
therefore
participate in community meetings organised by the
various community wildlife and landowner
associations
in the wider area, and in particular the Masai
Mara Management Association meetings. In addition,
to
strengthen linkages with KWS and other district
authorities, management will also participate in the
periodic
District Human Wildlife Conflict Resolution
Committee meetings, as and when appropriate (HWC is
covered
in more depth under Objective 3
below).
