Virtual reality film 'My Africa' & From conflict to coexistence: How peace and security underpin conservation in Northern Kenya

Register Now Conservation International recognizes that people need nature to thrive. But numerous confounding factors make coexistence between people and nature more of a dream than a reality in many places, especially in remote rural areas like northern Kenya. To address some of these factors, Conservation International’s efforts in northern Kenya focus on promoting peace and security, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and creating economic incentives to increase community tolerance of species like elephant that cause high levels of human-wildlife conflict.

In this presentation Matthew Lewis, Regional Wildlife Program Director, Conservation International will discuss how Conservation International, in partnership with Northern Rangelands Trust and the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, has enabled community-based rangers to establish peace and security while combating poaching, expanded infrastructure to support nature-based tourism to create jobs and economic incentives for conservation. Lewis will also discuss how they have helped establish the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary to care for elephants impacted by human-wildlife conflict and poaching to allow communities to build a closer tie to their elephant neighbors.

Screening of Conservation International's new virtual reality film 'My Africa' showcasing community-led wildlife conservation in Northern Kenya will precede the presentation.

Tea/coffee will be available to all guest from 11-11.30am.

Programme

11.00 – 11. 30 am        Tea/Coffee
11.30 – 11. 35 am        Welcome and introduction, Evelyn Namvua, ABCG
11.35 – 11. 50 am        VR Film, Ally Jamah, Conservation International
11.50 – 12. 10 pm        Presentation, Matthew Lewis, Conservation International
12.10 – 12. 30 pm        Questions and Answer Session
12.30 pm                       Closing

Speaker Bio

Matthew Lewis, Conservation International

Matthew Lewis is a wildlife biologist with many years of experience in community-based conservation approaches in Africa and worldwide. Beginning his career as a volunteer agroforestry extensionist with the US Peace Corps in Kenya in 1995, he worked on wildlife conservation in North America, Asia and Africa prior to joining Conservation International as the Africa Division Regional Wildlife Program Director in 2018. Matthew is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Sustainable Use and Livelihoods (SULi) Specialist Group and the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society.