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‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

Indigenous leaders call for greater inclusivity as the global biodiversity framework comes under threat.

By United Nations Development Programme

August 4^th, 2022

When Nelson Ole Reiyia saw a new fence being constructed near his home in the Maasai Mara, he was worried. Maasai Mara, which means “spotted” landscape, with acacia and thorn bushes dotted across the open savanna, is home to the Indigenous Maasai people of Kenya. The pastoralist community depend on their animals and the land for their livelihoods. As new fences began appearing across the landscape, Reiyia sprang into action.

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

He explained to a room of delegates in Nairobi – at recent discussions held ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity to take place in December 2022 – that he saw unfolding a future that his Indigenous community did not want.

“We saw a bleak future, threatened by land selling, land grabs for commodification, by tourist preserves, by the collapse of our rivers and grasslands, and by unsustainable fragmentation as electric fences carved up and closed off the wildlife migratory corridors,” he said.

Migration corridors help maintain the balance of the Maasai Mara's ecosystem. Closing them off threatens biodiversity and can lead to human-animal conflict. Photo: Nashulai Maasai Conservancy/Nora Nord

“We saw the loss of land and more fences and knew that unless something was done, biodiversity would be lost forever. That informed my inner journey to work with my community, who have kept [conservation areas] intact… Our culture does not encourage killing of animals or poaching or selling ivory tusks," he explained.

"People have always existed in balance and harmony. The Maasai lifestyle traditionally depends on the land, and in the right measures that does not harm the ecosystem. We have an attachment to the land.”

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

Biodiversity under threat

Reiyia is among leaders fighting for the rights of Indigenous communities and calling for stronger action, as up to 80 percent of the negotiating text in the 20 action targets of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework draft agreement have remained unresolved, threatening progress at the up-coming COP15 conference. While almost 100 countries support the proposal to protect at least 30 percent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 under the framework, with the protection of Indigenous rights a critical element of this initiative, countries failed to agree on fundamental issues.

The rights of of Indigenous communities will be a critical topic at the upcoming COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference. Photo: Nashulai Maasai Conservancy/Nora Nord

These prominent issues include how much funding would be committed to conserve biodiversity; or what percentage figures the world should strive to protect, conserve and restore to address the extinction crisis. Experts have called for the recognition of the land, territories and traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). Additionally, Indigenous advocates and allies are pushing to secure the free, prior and informed consent of IPLCs in conservation policies as key for the framework to succeed.

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

Reiyia speaks from much experience. In 2016, he co-founded the Nashulai Maasai Conservancy, a private, community-run conservancy on 10,000-acres in the Maasai Mara ecosystem on the edge of the National Reserve. The conservancy is the first to be governed and managed by the Maasai people, whose land it is, and which they have inhabited for centuries, and covers a critical animal migratory corridor between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Mara in Kenya. “Nashulai” means “to co-exist in harmony”, a concept integral to its work, addressing the needs of wildlife, livestock and people together.

Keeping the world in balance

“Our conservancy demonstrates that local communities have the leadership and capacity to provide innovative solutions which are critical in preserving our threatened biodiversity,” notes Reiyia. Through a management plan that follows the age-old practice of rotational grazing, opening up ancient wildlife corridors, the community has improved grassland management and encouraged migratory patterns among elephants, wildebeest and giraffes along traditional routes in the conservancy.

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

Especially since the onset of the pandemic, fundraising initiatives have been started to combat food insecurity; a river restoration initiative to ensure clean water led by women and an organic village-kitchen garden project aim to improve long-term food security. The community is also making soap made from elephant dung among other enterprising initiatives.

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

Nashulai Maasai Conservancy’s success in protecting wildlife and culture demonstrates how respecting the human rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and local communities simultaneously leads to the conservation of the world’s biodiversity. Their work also corroborates a growing body of research which shows that safeguarding the rights of Indigenous peoples is the most effective and economical model for conserving the world’s natural assets.

Yet Indigenous communities remain disenfranchised, such as the thousands of Maasai from Ngorongoro in Tanzania who are facing eviction from their ancestral lands.

“We are calling for inclusivity – involving wider players [in negotiations] beyond politicians and technocrats, a model where there can be practical solutions if people are engaged and work together," Reiyia said.

"We are guardians of vanishing ecosystems. Conservation can work when people are involved, and not when they are pushed out.”

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

‘We are the guardians of vanishing ecosystems’

The work of the Nashulai Maasai Conservancy has gained international recognition. In 2020, the initiative won the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Equator Prize. The Equator Prize recognizes IPLCs for innovative, nature-based solutions that tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, commended for being “at the forefront of a paradigm-shift”.

“Think of us as frontline citizens. Citizen scientists in fact.”

“Every day the Maasai are out on the land as they have been since time immemorial, and we see with our own eyes, every day, the heartrending effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. We know our lives depend on the health of the ecosystem. We, like many Indigenous peoples, understand it intimately. Our knowledge has kept our world in balance.”

The Maasai have inhabited the Great Rift Valley for thousands of years, and their intimate knowledge of the the ecosystem runs deep. However, land and biodiversity loss is threatening their way of life. Photo: Nashulai Maasai Conservancy/Nora Nord

The Equator Prize 2022 will recognize 10 innovative initiatives from IPLCs that demonstrate exceptional achievements in nature-based solutions for local sustainable development. Stay tuned to meet this year’s winners on 9 August 2022, to commemorate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. See 2021 prize highlights here.

© 2026 United Nations Development Programme

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