OUR ROOTS, IMPACT & VISION
The vision behind African Conservation Centre is Dr. David Western. A native East African, Dr. Western began his career as a scientist and conservationist in 1967 studying the ecology of the Maasai Amboseli National Reserve to address a deep conflict over its status and future.
Conservationists, insistent that overgrazing was destroying Amboseli’s famous fever tree woodland and its wildlife, were pressing the government to create a national park and exclude the Maasai. The Kajiado County Council rejected the claim and insisted on control of the reserve and its tourist revenues.
Recognizing the role of pastoralists in the ecosystem, Western studied the interplay of livestock and wildlife, and showed the importance of seasonal migrations and the drought refuges of the Amboseli basin in sustaining their abundance and coexistence. Based on these findings, he proposed that the Maasai should establish a small core park nested within a larger ecosystem that sustained the migrations and the coexistence of people and wildlife. The proposal drew in anthropologists, political scientists, and economists from the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Development Studies, the warden, Daniel Sindiyo, members of the Maasai community and the Kajiado County Council. Thus began a lifetime commitment to community-based conservation, science, and local knowledge. Read more about the Amboseli Conservation Program . . .
Milestone Intro. text to go here
2000+
TITLE OR OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT OF DECADE?
- Funded by the Ford Foundation, organizes an East African Ecotourism Conference, bringing together 200 delegates from three East African countries to discuss community-based conservation and responsible business opportunities. From this conference the book ‘Ecotourism: from an Idea to an Industry’ is published through ACC by IIED in August 2003.
- John Kamanga, Coordinator of SORALO and Chairman of Olkiramatian Group Ranch, wins the 2013 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s Wildlife Conservation Award. The award is given to John in order to honor his conservation leadership. Established in 1993, it has been presented to leading scientists and conservationists, including Jane Goodall, George Schaller, E.O. Wilson, and David Western.
- Dr. David Western, Chair of ACC’s Board of Trustees receives the 2012 TIES Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2012 Ecotourism Conference held in Monterey California USA, recognizing his distinguished achievements in promoting ecotourism and conscientious travel; supporting the goals of sustainable community development and biodiversity conservation; and inspiring positive changes in the tourism industry.
1990s
TITLE OR OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT OF DECADE?
- Establishes the South Rift Association of Land Owners (SORALO) in 19xx
- Establishes Amboseli/Tsavo Group Ranch Conservation Association (ATGRCA) in 19xx
- Establishes Maasai Mara Management Authority (MMMA) in 19xx
1980s
TITLE OR OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT OF DECADE?
- Ecotourism explorations in Amboseli and Mara lead to the establishment of Ecotourism Society Of Kenya (ESOK), currently known as Ecotourism Kenya.
- Plays a key role in the establishment of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
1970s
TITLE OR OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT OF DECADE?
- Pioneers research methods in ecosystems, most notably the Minimum Viable Conservation Area (MVCA), a powerful framework for integrating regional biodiversity conservation. In 19XX the MVCA is adopted by the East African Cooperation (EAC) as a basis for regional conservation and by various donors (e.g European Union (EU) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in prioritizing their projects.
- Pioneers ecotourism in East Africa through its studies in Amboseli
- Pioneers community-based conservation concepts and practices (more specifics on this…)