Aug, 29, 2025. TTWCA hosted members of the Southern Rangelands Coalition (SRC) for a learning exchange on ecosystem connectivity and biodiversity conservation.
The event, organized by the African Conservation Centre (ACC), brought together conservation leaders, government representatives, researchers, and landscape organizations from across Kenya’s southern rangelands, including African Wildlife Foundation, Conservation International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, Wildlife Research & Training Institute Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association, The Taita Taveta County Government, IUCN, County Government of Kajiado, WWF-Kenya, among others.
The exchange aimed at fostering learning, sharing, and documentation of lessons from across the region, while identifying the status of biodiversity and biodiversity-compatible solutions to address emerging challenges.
The dialogue also focused on unlocking opportunities for nature-based investments and developing a call to action that sets priorities for healthy and interconnected ecosystems.
A position statement by the coalition is to outline urgent measures to address threats to the southern rangelands and define a course of action going forward.
Hon. Grantone Mwandawiro, CECM Environment, Water, Irrigation, and Climate Change in Taita Taveta, described this coalition as timely, aligning it with the already formed Taita Taveta WASH and Environment Coordination Forum (TTaWECoF).
With approximately 86% of Taita Taveta land under conservation, I am glad with the formation of this coalition. I hope that through it we will be able to facilitate the realization of conservation benefits that are tangible to the community,
he said.
Lucy Waruingi, Executive Director at ACC, emphasized the importance of raising the visibility of southern landscapes, while SORALO representatives called for conservation models that put people first.
If we save people’s lives, we will save wildlife. Conservation needs to care about communities and speak their language,
urged a representative from SORALO.
Participants explored a range of ideas, including ecosystem and connectivity mapping for southern Kenya, biodiversity monitoring with and for communities, codesigned research, and adoption of multidimensional biodiversity monitoring indicators.
Opportunities for enhancing connectivity through habitat restoration, wildlife-friendly infrastructure, and county-level policies and plans were also highlighted.
Nancy Githaiga, AWF Country Director, praised the forum as an excellent platform and an opportunity to have honest conversations on how proper utilization of resources for maximum impact can be achieved through collaboration.
The exchange concludes with a shared commitment to build collaborative networks, strengthen partnerships and collaborations, and enhance policy influence through joint recommendations.
Looking forward, the coalition will prioritize targeted investments in the region, youth integration into conservation, cross-county policy alignment, and positioning the southern rangelands as a cohesive landscape for conservation and investment.