Kenya Wildlife Trust and the Maasai Mara Science and Development Initiative have decided to formalise their year-long cooperation and strong relationship by partnering up.

A Message of Understanding has been signed stating that the partners agree to contribute to conserving the Maasai Mara ecosystem, its rich wildlife and culture through interdisciplinary research and development initiatives, working closely with Mara stakeholders. Dr. Irene Amoke, the ED of Kenya Wildlife Trust will join the board of the MMSDI.

“Our organizations share the same ambition of data driven and community supported conservation efforts, so we are very happy that we now can work even closer together” says Professor Svenning, Chairman of the MMSDI board, Professor at Aarhus University (Denmark), Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE)

He is also looking forward to working with Dr. Amoke as a member of the MMSDI board:

“During the last four years, she has made important contributions to our research and is a co-author of several of our research publications e.g. Fencing bodes a rapid collapse of the unique Greater Mara ecosystem  and  Are goats the new elephants in the room? Changing land-use strategies in Greater Mara, Kenya. “continues Professor Svenning.

The Kenya Wildlife Trust is pleased to officially join the MMSDI. Over the past few years, KWT and MMSDI have worked closely together across the Ecosystem and share a common goal: to see a thriving Mara Ecosystem. KWT’s flagship programme, the Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) has a strong presence in this ecosystem, carrying cutting edge predator research and using results from this work to develop and run strong community conservation programmes, working closely with the various Mara stakeholders, including the conservancies, Kenya Wildlife Service and Narok County Government.