Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association’s council conducted its Annual General Meeting on January 26, 2022, at Augustine George Hotel, Voi, in line with keeping best corporate governance practices and strengthening its capacity. More than 33 ranches and conservancies were represented by their executive members.
The council was informed of the programmes that have been taking place, strides made in the previous year and plans for the future. The Board of Directors took the opportunity to share the 2022 action plan to provide a roadmap for the organization as the year began, giving a clear understanding of the direction the organization is taking.
While chairing the meeting, TTWCA chairman Donald Mcharo thanked the members for turning up for that crucial meeting. He reminded members of the potential and the vast opportunities the ranches have. “Ranches of Taita Taveta carry a varied range of wealth, ranging from livestock production, tourism and mining, with potential for irrigated agriculture when fully exploited,” Mcharo said. “I call upon we the ranchers and the county government to continue investing in them to realize this exceptional potential.”
He informed members of the relaunch of the Taita Taveta Environment Coordination initiative (TTECi), a framework to facilitate collaboration and networking of conservancies with the county government and other conservation partners in the landscape for a common goal. “We are looking forward to entering into MoUs with key county government departments to channel support to the conservancies and ranches to continue this great conservation works we are doing,” Mcharo said. “This will be realised through platforms such as TTECi. Thus, as TTWCA, we will strive to put in place such measures.”
Mcharo acknowledged the presence of Taita Taveta Environment Director John Mlamba and welcomed him to give his remarks. Mlamba commended TTWCA for the progress it has made and assured members of more support from the county to the association as well as to individual ranches and conservancies. “You should be proud of TTWCA because you are the landowners in the county and the foundation of this organization.,” he said. “You need to maximise the use of these natural resources we have for the benefit of the people of Taita.” He emphasized the importance of the conservation model, which the government has recognized as it worked towards developing the Climate Change Act.
“Very soon, as we work towards implementing the developed Climate Change Act, the county will develop a standalone fund known as County Climate Change Fund, which will focus on issues revolving around climate change,”Mlamba said. “I, therefore, encourage TTWCA to make use of this programme when it comes in place, among other programmes, such us the Forest and Landscape Restoration Programme (Folarep), just to mention a few.”
Members were pleased by the shape the organization is taking and pledged their support to ensure it stands firm in executing its mandate of supporting the development of wildlife conservancies and other related economic activities with willing partners and stakeholders.
This article is the third piece of our #TTWCA2022 series, which captures TTWCA’s top highlights in the first half of 2022. The series will culminate with the launch of the second edition of the TTWCA Bulletin in August. Stay tuned! In case you missed the first-ever edition of the TTWCA Bulletin, you can have a read here. Enjoy!
