Rehydrating the Earth, Amboselli National Park, KeniaREAL: Re-hydrating the Earth and Arid Landscapes At the foot of mount Kilimanjaro but still in Kenya one of the most beautiful pieces of nature unfolds itself. A small protected national park is home to a wide variety of wildlife species. Surrounded by traditional Masai tribes wildlife lives together with livestock off of the same natural resources. This is the location chosen by Peter Westerveld of the Westerveld foundation to initiate the REAL project. A significant problem a lot of African countries cope with is lack of water management. In Amboseli National park this is the case. The problem of water management has a lot of faces around here, there is not enough vegetation to provide food and firewood for all people and animals. Water supply is insufficient to provide all wildlife and livestock with enough to drink. The heavy rainfall and the large amounts of water that come down from Kilimanjaro are the main causes of the problems. A surplus of water creates floods that break away land and vegetation. The clay like soil is incapable of absorbing the fast flowing water during the short time of the flood. When the flood ends the soil dries out very quickly leaving behind bare desert land where once vegetation would flourish. The remaining vegetation is concentrated around natural ponds and tiny lakes that remain after the floods have passed. All elephants, gazelles, water-buffalos, hyenas, hippos, impalas, zebras and other wildlife fight amongst each other for the small resources that are left during dry season. But also goats, donkeys and cows of the local Masai tribes have to live off the same water and vegetation resources. It is not uncommon that a goat or cow is trampled by an elephant. The local population obviously is upset when this happens and will kill the elephant. To make matters even worse a lot of wild animals will die during dry season because of the lack of vegetation and water. This leads to a smaller biodiversity and less ecotourism which reflects on the revenues of the Kenya Wildlife Service that thus have less means to preserve the nature that everyone is dependant upon. The solution of the Westerveld Foundation that has been realized in cooperation with the Technical University of Delft, NL, is as simple as it is robust. It makes sure that water is retained during raining season. The plan consists of two parts, a trench system and a huge sand dam. During the floods the trenches will fill up with water which has a dual effect. Firstly, the force of the flood is reduced by the trench system and secondly the trenches remain full of water when the flooded land dries up. This ensures that the water captured by the trenches has enough time to be absorbed by the soil. This leads to a higher level of groundwater and enables vegetation to grow between and inside the trenches. The difference in vegetation between the area with the trenches and the area without is astonishing. At the end of the trench system the sand dam is situated which captures the water of the flood that has passed over the trench system. The dam is of such a height that a very large pond is formed at the end of rainy season. When the dry season starts all the animals come and drink from this artificial pond. The pond is sufficiently large to provide enough water all year round. The dam and the trenches are maintained by the local population in cooperation with the Kenyan Wildlife Service. The conservation of nature is advantageous to all parties involved. The tourist will see more nature and wildlife. The Kenya Wildlife Service will have larger tourist revenues as from tourist entry fees. The revenues are used to pay for the REAL project, to maintain it and to extend it. Part of the revenues is used as a small compensation for the local Masai whenever another livestock is trampled by an elephant. Therefore the Masai also benefit from the conservation of nature. This is besides their individual revenues from tourism through selling food, housing, guided tours and artifacts. Because there will be enough water and vegetation for all wildlife and livestock together, less livestock will be trampled by elephants. Also more firewood will be available because of the larger vegetation. Recently the REAL project has been extended to a second location. A traditional village called a cultural Manyata that depends on livestock for its maintenance and earns a buck on the side by showing the tourists the traditional Masai way of life. This village is situated in the midst of a dry desert-like plane at the edge of Amboseli National Park en was hit by floods multiple times during rainy seasons. The requested the assistance of the Westerveld Foundation and the Kenya Wildlife Service to control the floods with a trenching system similar to the one dug at the first location. The Westerveld Foundation reacted positively to the request and enough funds were gathered to kick off the second project. A system of fifteen trenches was dug two years ago and the village has not been flooded since. Carefully the first bushes begin to peak into the outside world inside and in between the trenches. The complete result will be noticed in a couple of years and plans of guided tours for birdwatchers in the villagers' own little park are already in the making. A second initiative of the village, closely related to the REAL project, is the planting and growing of the Atrofa plant in between the first couple of trenches. Within a couple of years the village wants to start selling Atrofa seeds, used for the production of biodiesel, to reduce their dependency on livestock. In conclusion, REAL is a project that benefits all parties involved, even the western people funding the project will be able to enjoy Kenya's wildlife, nature and Masai culture for years during their holidays. A fantastic example of sustainable development with beneficiaries all around. |