OL PEJETA SET TO BE ENSCRIBED IN THE FIRST IUCN INTERNATIONAL ‘GREEN LIST’
(Posted 19th November 2014)
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, has selected the Ol Pejeta Conservancy as one of only two wildlife conservancies in Africa to be listed on their ‘Green List of Protected Areas’, a very significant honour and recognition for the sterling work done on the conservancy vis a vis rhino conservation but also, notably, for their unique approach of having wildlife and livestock coexist in harmony.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the largest professional global conservation network, and considered a leading authority on the environment and sustainable development. They are currently developing a Green List of Protected Areas, which is the only global standard of good practice for protected areas. It aims to recognise and promote success in managing some of the most valuable natural areas on the planet – and Ol Pejeta is one such area and the only one in Kenya as far as could be ascertained.
Ol Pejeta is among the first 23 successful sites to be selected as part of the first phase of the Green List, news which was announced last week at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 taking place in Sydney, Australia.
‘The IUCN Green List will define success for protected areas’ said Julia Marton-Lefèvre, IUCN Director General. ‘It is about recognizing those sites that successfully respond to the challenges of the 21st century and contribute to the wellbeing of people and nature’.
The inclusion is not only a major coup for Ol Pejeta but also for Kenya as a country, affirming once again that it has what it takes to remain one of the world’s leading safari destinations where in a place like Ol Pejeta, just 3 ½ hours drive from Nairobi or a 35 minutes flight, all the big five can be found on one conservancy, with plenty of more activities available for visitors. It is also the only place where the remaining three Northern White Rhinos can be seen in the wild with ongoing efforts to have them breed and keep the sub species alive.
Home to such acclaimed properties as Serena’s Sweetwaters Safari Camp or the Porini Rhino Camp, among others, does the conservancy not only offer top rated 5 star accommodation but also permits camping or the use of the Pelican House, a traditional settlers’ farm house which can be occupied by a family or several friends on a self-catering basis. More information can be found vis www.olpejetaconservancy.org
Scheduled flights with Safarilink from Nairobi originate from Wilson Airport and normally use the Nanyuki airfield though direct charters on to one of the conservancy airfields are also possible.
Congratulations to the Ol Pejeta team on this extraordinary success story of making it on to the first ever IUCN Green List.
