Our work
Our first focus is on an area of approximately 3000 hectares in the Loita Hills & Plains, the habitat of thousands of Maasai people and wildlife. In addition to many elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, this area is the breeding zone of thousands of wildebeest.
Our approach
We find it essential to develop projects and work together with the local Maasai community. A bottom-up vision shows their strong desire to remain pastoralists in harmony with nature. However, some changes are inevitable when we face the future. Due to the enormous population growth, climate change and investors who are buying up land, more and more Maasai and wild animals depend on the same decreasing parcels of land.
To conserve both wildlife and Maasai Cultural Heritage we started off with creating more waterpoints in the area. Water is life! This reduces also conflicts and transmission of diseases.
Secondly we are focusing on the quality of the cattle instead of the quantity. With fewer cattle and the implementation of 'rotational grazing programs', overgrazing can be prevented. Nature can recover and creates a bigger habitat for wildlife. Fewer cows means more and healthier grass per cow, which will generate a higher value on the market.
Secondly we are focusing on the quality of the cattle instead of the quantity. With fewer cattle and the implementation of 'rotational grazing programs', overgrazing can be prevented. Nature can recover and creates a bigger habitat for wildlife. Fewer cows means more and healthier grass per cow, which will generate a higher value on the market.
By adding alternative ways of income, like beekeeping and ecotourism, we believe there will be a sustainable and happy future for wildlife and the Maasai community.
Our projects consists of 3 main aspects
1) Awareness, education and jobs
Awareness on the importance of biodiversity and nature conservation in order to preserve Maasai Cultural Heritage. Education about biogas plants, beekeeping, food gardens, eco tourism, wildlife conservation, financial management and family planning. Creating jobs inside the Conservancy for rangers, guides, drivers, chefs, beekeepers.
2) Restoring 'life in harmony with nature'
Recovering the ecosystem by removing fences and re-opening wildlife and cattle migration routes. Creating clean water sources by drilling wells and dams. Downsizing of cattle and introduction of rotation grazing. Planting indigenous trees, installation of beehives and providing (bio)gas cylinders to replace cooking on firewood.
Recovering the ecosystem by removing fences and re-opening wildlife and cattle migration routes. Creating clean water sources by drilling wells and dams. Downsizing of cattle and introduction of rotation grazing. Planting indigenous trees, installation of beehives and providing (bio)gas cylinders to replace cooking on firewood.
3) Creating a Community-owned Nature Conservancy'
The realization of a protected and sustainable habitat where Maasai people and wildlife can co-exist in harmony. A conservancy which offers enough sustainable ways of income for the Maasai people to support their families.
The realization of a protected and sustainable habitat where Maasai people and wildlife can co-exist in harmony. A conservancy which offers enough sustainable ways of income for the Maasai people to support their families.
On our instagram account you can follow our daily work.
@backtonaturefoundation
Awareness & Education
Awareness & Education
During meetings with the community we talk about the values of the Maasai culture and the importance of life in harmony with nature. We share the current threats and developments in the world and what kind of effect they have on nature, the ecosystem and finally on the wildlife and the community. Especially the Maasai elders, the wisdom and earth keepers, see the changes overtime and the negative effects of individualism, fencing, population growth and climate change.
We also talk about the effects of overgrazing and the benefits of having less, but higher quality live stock and alternative ways of income. We offer trainings in beekeeping, organic farming and building biogas plants. Family planning is a sensitive topic, but within women groups ideas about means for anticonception are shared.
We also talk about the effects of overgrazing and the benefits of having less, but higher quality live stock and alternative ways of income. We offer trainings in beekeeping, organic farming and building biogas plants. Family planning is a sensitive topic, but within women groups ideas about means for anticonception are shared.
Restore the ecosystem
Restore the ecosystem
We aim to restore the Masai Mara ecosystem by creating community and wildlife waterpoints, removing fences, downsizing live stock and introducing rotational grazing schedules. With these actions we open up and enlarge migration corridors and restore access to enough natural resources (grass, water, minerals) for the community, their live stock and the wild animals.
We organize tree planting days with the community to prevent soil erosion during heavy rains and to compensate the carbon offset when using wood for building manyatta's (houses). We give out gas cylinders to replace cooking on firewood.
Cleaning actions at the village are organized as well to collect plastic bottles which can be recycled. The installation of beehives is also contributing to restore the ecosystem.
Conserve the ecosystem
Conserve the ecosystem
With enough ambassadors and community members we aim to establish a huge Community-owned Nature Conservancy. Essential is that landowners get compensated for protecting wildlife and conserving nature. Apart from donations to adopt conservancy land, there should be enough sustainable ways of income for the Maasai community to survive. Organic honey production, authentic Maasai beadwork and healthy meat will be good alternatives. We also train people from the community to become rangers in cooperation with KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service). The rangers will monitor wildlife and cattle and prevent conflicts. When wildlife and Maasai cultural heritage are well conserved, ecotourism can contribute as well and sustain the ecosystem further.
Benefits for the Community
Landowners who have not closed off their land with wire fences have free access to clean water. Water is life!
Community members, who become a member of the 'Back to Nature' Conservancy, will receive more benefits through the Foundation. Like solar protection lights for the night, gas cylinders for cooking, vegetables and fruits from the food gardens, vaccinations for healthy cattle, school fees for their kids and access to health care.
Furthermore we have introduced several income generating projects. We sell pure honey from our beekeeping projects, organic vegetables from the community gardens and beautiful beadwork ornaments made in the Maasai beading centre.
We also provide education for the new generation. We send kids to school, which leads to more educated people in the community who can take over the conservancy projects in the future. During school holidays we also run a kidsclub where kids are taught about ancient Maasai bushcraft, medicinal plants, animal behaviour and how to respect wildlife and live in harmony with nature.
Actions taken since our start in 2019
- Several community meetings were hold to share ideas and take actions.
- Cleaning activities were organized with the schoolkids and teachers around the hot spring in the village.
- A constitution is written with the community containing the regulations for all 'Back to Nature' community members.
- Quotes are compared from several drilling companies for a complete installation of a solar-pump water well, including watertower, watertanks, taps and drinking troughs for cattle and wildlife.
- The locations for the first boreholes are selected. Land searches are done with the Ministry of land to approve title deeds of land owners.
- Lease agreements are made to guarantee access to the water wells for all 'Back to Nature' community members.
- Fundraising has started and funds for the first 2 boreholes have been successfully generated.
- The first borehole is completed with 3 taps for the community to fetch water and 1 animal trough of 5 meter long.
- The first organic community garden is completed and 10 beehives are installed. A beekeeping training for the community was given.
- A women beading group is formed and makes beautiful beadwork which is for sale to generate more community income.
- Several gas cylinders are given out to the community. This safes firewood and time, plus reduces the amount of toxic smoke in the houses while cooking.
- The first fences on wildlife routes are removed.
- The realization of the second borehole installation is completed.
- Plans for the construction of the Maasai Cultural Education Centre are confirmed.
- 4 water dams for animals have been digged.
- The realization of the third borehole and community garden has started.
- Workshops organic farming for 50 Maasai women.
- Solar protection lights have been provided for all Back to Nature project members.
Main activities and goals for 2024 and 2025:
- Construction of more boreholes, dams.
- Growing the Community Wildlife Conservancy (to 2000 hectares).
- Educating the rangers and build a rangerpost.
- Installation of biogassystems/ stoves to replace/reduce cooking on firewood.
- Establish a rotational grazing schedule, kraals and shepard houses.
- Developing Community food gardens with irrigationsystem.
- Development of grassbanks as an income generating project.
Stichting Back to Nature
Philips Willemstraat 33b
3051 PM Rotterdam
The Netherlands
KVK 75281600
RSIN 8602211568
Stichting Back to Nature
Philips Willemstraat 33b
3051 PM Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Philips Willemstraat 33b
3051 PM Rotterdam
The Netherlands
KVK 75281600
RSIN 8602211568
E-mail: info@
backtonaturefoundation.com
Phone: +254 (0) 717 469 560
Whatsapp: +31(0) 6 14565558
Bank details for donations:
NL98 INGB 0007 2046 77
Swift or Bic code: INGBNL2A
