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Rhino Ark is a charitable trust registered as a Charity in Kenya, UK (Charity No. 1047083) and USA (with IRC 501 (c) 3 Status). Founded in 1988 the trust responded to the grave crisis facing Kenya’s Black Rhino population in the Aberdare ecosystem (see also Aberdare National Park). The Rhino were under severe threat from rampant poaching for their highly valued horn. Rhino Ark’s initial aim was to build a fence along sections of the Aberdare National Park on its Eastern Salient where rhino were being mercilessly poached. The Salient borders directly onto farming land. Wildlife was able to maraud at night into the farms bordering the park, destroying crops, creating fear and loss of both revenue and on occasions, lives. This situation fuelled an already volatile community which saw no value in protecting either the wildlife or the forest habitat. Poachers had easy access. Rhino Ark’s formation was specifically to assist the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to finance a protective fence around the Salient area which has the highest concentration of wildlife in the Aberdares. The initial project idea subsequently evolved into a much more ambitious task of encircling the entire Aberdare Conservation Area with a game proof fence. The fence, strong enough to resist elephant pressure, is powered by electricity to keep wildlife within and curb illegal log extraction, snaring, poaching of wildlife (especially rhino and the rare and elusive bongo) from without. The fence construction work started in 1989 and completed on 28 August 2009.〔Daily Nation, August 29, 2009: (Fencing of Aberdares completed )〕 On 12 March 2010 the fence was formally commissioned by the former President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Mwai Kibaki. Construction of the fence has brought harmony between wildlife and farmers around the Aberdare Conservation Area. The farmers now enjoy peaceful sleep at night without fear of land, crop and house destruction. Over the years, Rhino Ark’s work has evolved towards seeking sustainable, long term solutions to the conservation challenges facing mountain forest ecosystems, and other areas of important biodiversity under threat. In December 2010, Rhino Ark announced its formal commitment to supporting conservation of other mountain forest ecosystems. The initial areas of focus are Mount Kenya and Mau Mount Eburu. In order to secure the long-term management of the fence, the Aberdare Trust was launched on 11 May 2012 by the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya.〔http://www.kws.go.ke/info/news/2012/16_aberdare_fence_2012.html〕 The Trust is a public-private partnership with strong 'Participatory Management' by communities that will manage the fence and ensure that the objectives of the fence are met, through among others, properly implemented gate management and access policy. The Trust is intended to be a role model to be replicated in the other montane forest ecosystems. Together with other Kenyan conservancies, like the Ol Pejeta Conservancy,〔http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/〕 Rhino Ark shares and develops best practices for the management of electric fences. == Mission & Objectives == Rhino Ark seeks solutions in the mountain range ecosystems of Kenya and for the benefit of Eastern Africa generally to: * Conserve such ecologically precious indigenous forests and their provision of vital environmental services; * Create a sustainable and harmonious environment that enables people and wildlife, including all flora and fauna, to coexist; * Create and provide sustainable programmes for forest edge communities based on payments for ecosystem services. Such programmes and projects will be tailored to create income generation for the communities that support the conservation of natural resources; * Mobilize stakeholders nationwide and internationally for initiatives to protect and conserve the habitat and promote managed use of forest products for the benefit of present and future generations; * Raise funds and other forms of support to develop sound management processes over entire eco-systems. * Create frameworks where wider society and forest edge communities become involved in the management processes through public-private partnerships; * Build mechanisms and management structures to prevent illegal exploitation of the forest habitat wherever it is threatened. In so doing all stakeholders will benefit and the flora and fauna, particularly endangered species, will be better secured. Rhino Ark's conservation work is anchored in three key values: * Protecting ecosystem integrity; * Ensuring full involvement of and participation by local communities; * Forming effective partnerships The overall approach is embodied in the philosophy HUMANS IN HARMONY WITH HABITAT AND WILDLIFE, and propagated though effective partnerships with stakeholders. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rhino Ark」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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