GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 5663

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 44 (3) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage gazettes the Plan in the Schedule hereto: SCHEDULE The Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy Integrated Conservation Management and Action Plan, 2021-2030 (hereinafter referred to as “the Plan”) defines the goals, objectives and actions that Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy (hereinafter referred to as “the Conservancy”) has designed to address among other issues wildlife conservation and tourism, crop and livestock production, biofuel prospecting, carbon trading and mining. The Plan also aims at effectively managing the natural resources to raise the socio-economic standards of the Mgeno community and diversify their livelihood opportunities. The Plan addresses threats to the Conservancy through the following management intervention measures— (a) implementing the zoning scheme outlined in the Plan; and (b) implementing management actions under the four management programmes. The Plan’s zoning scheme and management programmes are outlined in the following sections: 1.0 Zoning Scheme The Conservancy’s zonation scheme comprise four (4) zone types; high use zone, low use zone, development and administrative zone and the special use zone. The high use zone is an intensive use area, allowing multiple land uses including livestock grazing and wildlife viewing while the low use zone is an exclusive use zone that only allows tourism-wildlife viewing activities and tourism facilities development. The development and administrative zone provides areas for development of Conservancy infrastructure while the special use zone provide areas that mining, livestock intensive feed lot programme and agriculture can be undertaken exclusive of wildlife. 2.0 Management Programmes The Plan has four management programmes: Wildlife Management, Ecological Monitoring and Community Partnership Progarmme, Crop and Livestock Production Programme, Tourism Programme and Mining Programme. Under each of these programmes, there is the programme purpose, guiding principles, management objectives and actions that the Conservancy management will undertake to achieve the overall programme purpose. 2.1 Wildlife Conservation Management, Ecological Monitoring and Partnership Programme The purpose of this programme is to establish a professionally managed Conservancy that is anchored on strong ownership and management, compliance with relevant regulations and policies, and collaboration with stakeholders. The Programme comprise three (3) components: Conservancy administration and management, Ecological monitoring and research collaboration and Community outreach and partnership. 2.2 Crop and Livestock Production Programme The purpose of this programme is to manage the rangelands for increased livestock and agricultural productivity and diversity using the best pastoralist traditions with new technologies and knowledge and to diversify, leverage and optimize revenues for the conservancy. This Programme has crop and livestock components targeting about 20,000 acres of land. 2.3 Mining Programme The purpose of this Programme is to sustainably manage mineral resources through effective and efficient mining operations which are sensitive to environmental protection and equitable benefits sharing among stakeholders. The mining enterprises are meant to diversify, leverage and optimize revenues for the conservancy. 2.4 Tourism Programme The purpose of this programme is to develop a competitive and sustainable tourist destination embracing a rich biodiversity and culture that provides a distinctive experience through best practices for enhanced livelihoods. 3.0 Plan Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation This plan will be implemented by the Conservancy Management in close collaboration with key partners including Kenya Wildlife Service. The plan will be a living document that will be evaluated at the end of ten (10) years but periodic monitoring of progress will be conducted every three (3) years. The Conservancy board and management will appraise the implementation of the plan annually with management submitting quarterly management reports regarding activity implementation. Monitoring and evaluation plan will link the monitoring function; to work plans, focusing on efficiency and cost effectiveness, employ a participatory approach to monitoring and appraising progress using internal expertise in monitoring The Plan is deposited at the offices of the Director-General, Kenya Wildlife Service along Langata Road, and Chairman, Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy whose addresses are provided below: The Director-General, Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241–00200, Nairobi. Tel: (254) 020 6000800/6002345 E-mail: kws@kws.go.ke The Chairman, Mgeno Ranching (DA) Company Limited, P.O. Box 17–80305, Mwatate Taita Taveta, Tel: (254) (0)208111331 E-mail: ranchmgeno@gmail.com/ info@mgenoranching.co.ke Dated the 26th April, 2023. PENINAH MALONZA, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.