BENEFITING: Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund
PROJECT ORGANIZER: Sophia


HERE'S THE STORY:

Sophia Bush wrote -

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust works to protect the legendary ecosystems and astounding biodiversity of East Africa by developing sustainable economic benefits for local Maasai communities.

The world increasingly relies on many traditional communities like the Maasai to protect the ecological treasures that exist within the land that they own. But the incredible wilderness and wildlife of Africa's grasslands and the famous culture of the Maasai people both face daunting threats to their long-term survival. The fate of both rests with the Maasai themselves as they work to figure out how to benefit from their incredible natural resources while preserving them.

That's what MWCT is all about...a pioneering partnership between professional conservationists and dynamic young Maasai leaders to show that the Maasai community can thrive, not just survive, by managing their ecosystem wisely.

MWCT's efforts are focused on the Maasai communities and landscapes of the Chyulu Hills area, within the world-famous Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem. This is Hemingway's "Green Hills of Africa", deep cloud forests on hills over the savannah teeming with wildlife and Mt. Kilimanjaro rising out of the plains. The Maasai communities of this area own all of the land between the protected National Parks and within their land lie critical wildlife migration corridors and habitat reserves, forests that are carbon sinks and rivers and springs that supply the fresh water not only to this ecosystem but to more than 7 million people in Kenya, including the 2nd largest city.

MWCT funds and operates programs that promote economic benefits from conserving this ecosystem. Lease payments for conservancy zones, carbon credits, payments for watershed protection, sustainable eco-tourism, wildlife monitoring and security, conservation and tourism employment...these are just some of the ways MWCT is creating a cutting edge model of successful community-based conservation. And these benefits go where the community needs them most: Education and Health programs.

And we need your help! Lions, elephants, great herds of antelopes...and the Maasai. These are treasures the whole world cherishes.

Here on Crowdrise you can always check out our high-priority Projects and cool campaigns to support this work. This is where we rally to let you know what we're working on and get you involved!

Join the Maasai Team...you'll have a blast, learn a ton and meet great people!

Asante Sana!!