In Kenya, the Nashulai conservancy’s bold bet on coexistence with wildlife • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts:

• Nashuli Model
• Coexistence (People, Livestock, Wildlife)
• Community-formed, governed, and managed conservancy
• Cultural connectedness to land
• Ancestral burial sites

Nashuli Model: A Framework for Coexistence

The transcript introduces the "Nashuli model" as a paradigm for harmonious living between people, livestock, and wildlife. This model, embodied by the organization "Natural Life," emphasizes coexistence, a concept directly reflected in the organization's name.

Community-Led Conservation: The Natural Life Conservancy

A significant aspect highlighted is that Natural Life is the first conservancy to be entirely formed, governed, and managed by the community. This community-driven approach is presented as a direct response to critical threats.

Threats to Cultural Heritage and Ancestral Lands

The primary motivations for establishing the conservancy stem from a "present and clear danger of losing the cultural connectedness to the land." Furthermore, there was a "very, very serious threat that we might lose the land which contains all our stories for living." This land is deeply significant as it is where "the bones of our ancestors are buried."

Call to Action and Unity

In response to these existential threats, the community recognized the need to "pull together and create a conservancy." This statement underscores the collective action and unity required to protect their heritage and way of life.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The Nashuli model, as exemplified by Natural Life, represents a community-led initiative to foster coexistence between humans, livestock, and wildlife. This approach is driven by the urgent need to preserve cultural connections to ancestral lands, which are vital for community identity and history. The formation of this conservancy is a testament to the community's commitment to safeguarding their heritage through collective action.