Youth: The Future of Conservation
Young people are central to conservation on Kenya’s rangelands, and they are seeing the benefits of community conservancies.
In Meibae Conservancy in northern Kenya, a few young men dressed in colorful sarongs adorned with handcrafted beadwork, their hair stained red with the clay of the Kenyan earth, herd dozens of cattle to a patch of grass to graze.
These men aren’t just herders—they're warriors and protectors. Their role is to care for the community’s cattle, leading cattle to graze and keeping them safe from harm. These men are called “Morans”—a role that boys enter when they undergo traditional initiation ceremonies to become men but before they are married. Morans serve their community for 15 years by herding cattle, the foundation of wealth and security for the people of Meibae.
Kenya’s Community Conservancies
Wildlife and people both benefit from the community conservancy model.
ExploreEach herder knows each of his cows, even if he herds hundreds. But the Morans’ expertise and knowledge goes beyond cattle. The community conservancy model has made it possible to train Morans in skills like rangeland management and entrepreneurship. They’re also represented on boards in community conservancies, alongside elders and women, to ensure their voices are included in decision-making.
Conservation groups like Grevy’s Zebra Trust have worked to improve rangeland management in this community in recent years. By reaching young Morans who manage cattle movements, management can be most impactful and future community members can begin to see the benefits.
Samuel Leburkash, a 27-year-old Moran, recalls when cattle grazing was unplanned. Grasslands were quickly degraded, and Morans were forced to venture further and further from home to find suitable forage. Oftentimes, they’d end up on other people’s lands, leading to conflict. “It was the main cause of wars,” he said.
He’s fought over limited resources and seen cows and men killed over grass. But now, with conservation practices in place and grazing organized around a shared plan, Samuel and other Morans don’t have to travel as far to bring cattle to graze. In fact, they usually can come home during the day, when before, they could be away for months at a time.
The planning that goes into rangeland management requires the entire community to participate, Samuel said. That’s why inclusion of young people is so important. “If there is no unity among us, this planning and all this work will end up with nothing,” he said.
Community conservancies prioritize the inclusion and benefit of young people across Kenya’s rangelands. Youth are often represented on decision-making boards, like in Meibae. Resources from profitable enterprises, like carbon credits and tourism, fund schools, WiFi access, community centers and job opportunities for young people.
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Young people are also essential for spreading the word about conservation in an area that is 90% degraded. There are about 1,000 Morans in Meibae participating in conservation work, but there are many more Morans in the area who these young men encounter and can share their experiences with around conservation and the benefits of sustainable grazing.
By taking part in conservation and being part of decision-making, Morans are shaping the future of their communities. Their knowledge of the land, combined with new skills in sustainable grazing and entrepreneurship, is creating healthier rangelands and better livelihoods. As the next generation of leaders, their voices and actions are ensuring that both people and nature can thrive together.
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