Environmental Conservation has emerged to be the most important Global agenda for decades now; with the aim of achieving the 2030 global Conservation goals. This is only possible by bringing together all relevant stake holders on board; from Governments, non-Governmental Organizations; Community based organizations & most importantly the community itself.
Shimba Hills Forest Guides (SHIFOGA) is a local based Organization registered in August 2004, with the purpose of enhancing Community sustainable conservation within the Shimba Hills ecosystem, of Kwale County of the democratic republic of Kenya.
The Organization in partnership with Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and Kenya Wildlife services (KWS);which are the key government agencies mandated to conserve forest and wildlife respectively, has since expanded its scope in conservation, to include Afforestation, tree nursery Propagation, Wildlife Conservation, Community & schools sensitizations programs, all with the aim of creating awareness of conservation agendas important to & within the community.
Shifoga being a stakeholder of the Shimba hills forest ecosystem, wishes to witness the community benefiting from conservation endeavors within the Shimba hills ecosystem as reflected in the forest ACT 2016, of the constitution of the Democratic republic of Kenya.
Therefore SHIFOGA bridges the local community living adjacent to the forest reserve to the government agencies in working hand in hand towards sustainable conservation and achievement of the global conservation goals.
The Organization aims to expand its networking and training schemes with the purpose of improving the knowledge base of members and adjacent community at large.
A strong volunteer program helps to build on this foundation by exposing it's members to individuals and organizations with different skill sets and ideas. While attached to us the volunteers will be involved in various organization's programs of their choice and interest; relative to slot availability and season. The programs run by SHIFOGA includes: -
1. Environmental conservation, tree nursery establishment, management & Afforestation
2. Human wildlife conflict mitigation
3. Community Awareness & sensitization on environmental conservation
4. Research & primates monitoring
5. Ecotourism, Butterfly farming and nature trail management
6. School education program – teaching sessions
7. Project management and administration (as a project manager)
8. Marketing – producing and establishment of marking strategy and tools
Through these programs the organization has managed to establish a network with various stakeholders, established tree nurseries in schools and constructing of cultural village model, source of income through the project fees paid by the volunteer as a community support for the sustainability of the project.
In regard to this; we therefore request for membership and collaboration in terms of direct volunteer placements to our project which will continue to promote the wellbeing of our organization.
Shimba hills Forest Guides Community based organization being a stakeholder of the Shimba hills forest ecosystem is involved in the above agenda in many ways through working together with Kenya Forest services and Kenya wildlife services which are the key government agencies mandated to conserve forest and wildlife respectively.
The organization, through constant meetings and trainings spreads the word on conservation to the communities living adjacent/around and benefiting from the resource (the Shimba hills forest), on how best and sustainably way they can utilize the resources and at the same time benefiting from them.
The program plays a huge role in seeing that young students understand issues on conservation from their early age and be great players in environmental conservation
Together with relevant parties i.e. the Kenya wildlife Services (Kwale), Kenya Forest Services (Kwale) amongst others, Shifoga is engaged in finding possible measures, and implementing them with the aim of reducing the pressure of wild animals invading community farms
Constant monitoring and data recording of plants species, primates’ species movements, mating and feeding grounds helping in information research and reliable tour packages.
The program is aimed at promoting responsible tourism by conserving nature while benefiting
the local community through offering excursions to the villages involving the local community’s traditions and cultural practices
Butterfly farming around the Shimba Hills ecosystem has proven to be an important source of livelihood to some community members, through trade of butterfly products and as a potential tourist attraction aspect hence encouraging sustainable conservation.
The organization is involved in frequent clean up activities, maintenance and management of
the public toilets with Kwale town in collaboration with the County Government of Kwale.
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