Africa's acclaimed biodiversity is threatened by human land use practices, economic pressures, and the degradation of landscapes around isolated protected areas. A recent agreement between the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and Earthwatch Institute stands to make a significant contribution to the conservation of exceptional African landscapes.

Earthwatch and AWF recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), documenting their intent to work collaboratively on the conservation of natural resources and landscapes in Africa. This collaboration will be in direct support of AWF's African Heartlands program, conserving African landscapes of exceptional wildlife and natural value extending across state, private, and community lands.

"AWF's African Heartlands program promotes conservation at the landscape level, maintaining whole ecosystems and their vital processes," said Mark Chandler, director of conservation at Earthwatch. "This is just the kind of conservation partner that will complement and make the most use of Earthwatch's research program."

The African Wildlife Foundation is an international organization working with the people of Africa to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. Since 1961 AWF has helped African nations design successful long-term strategies for conserving their magnificent natural treasures. With staff in eight countries, AWF works at the grass roots level with park managers and communities to safeguard wildlife and wilderness areas.

AWF and Earthwatch will first initiate joint work in AWF's Samburu Heartland in northern Kenya, stretching from the slopes of Mount Kenya to the arid plains of Samburu. This area holds tremendous wildlife diversity, including several highly endangered species like Grevy's zebras, black rhinos, and pancake turtles. Locally threatened species, including buffaloes, elands, greater and lesser kudu, and grants gazelles, have declined here by 50 percent in recent years. Several other management issues, from migratory corridors for elephants to abating key threats to predator populations, demand a concerted research effort.

"The link between Earthwatch and AWF in the Samburu Heartland translates into a powerful combination of complementary skill sets," said Katie Frohardt, program technical director for AWF. "Specifically, it allows the coupling of applied conservation and management with research and outreach/education in support of conservation of Samburu's key species and habitats."

Although still in the planning stage, Earthwatch hopes to initiate a Conservation Research Center (CRC) in the Samburu Heartland, part of their initiative to develop CRCs in areas of exceptional conservation value around the world. Based at the Kijabe Community Ranch, near Mount Kenya, the CRC would be a site for Earthwatch scientists and volunteers to work on an array of integrated research projects. Earthwatch will collaborate with AWF Heartland teams and community partners on applied research, management, and training initiatives addressing local conservation needs.

"A CRC in the Samburu Heartland would help local conservation workers grapple with such issues as conflicts between ranches and wildlife, elephant migratory behavior, and the depredations of lions and other carnivores," said Chandler. "It would bring Earthwatch's 30 years of experience conducting field research to bear on pressing local issues."

Though this collaboration begins in Samburu, AWF anticipates expanding the collaboration to other regions of Africa. There are currently seven Heartlands across East, Central, and Southern Africa, and the program is poised for further expansion into still other outstanding biodiversity-rich landscapes.

"AWF sees the Earthwatch model and work with researchers and volunteers as uniquely designed to deliver components of the vision for Heartland-wide conservation," said Frohardt. "The launch of our joint work in Samburu Heartland marks the beginning of what we hope will be a model program of collaboration in support of landscape scale conservation in Africa."

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.