Participatory Land Use Planning Advances In Koija, Morupusi and Lekurruki Community Lands
The participatory land use planning continued in Koija, Morupusi and Lekurruki community lands, with a focus on boundary delimitation.
In Koija, mapping documented 108 natural and built features, while the Morupusi survey captured 271 sites and Lekurruki mapped 63 features, including water resources, grazing areas, wildlife corridors, conservation and tourism assets, public facilities and cultural sites. This data is critical for zoning, infrastructure investment, natural-resource management and conservation planning.
The planning process is also bringing community priorities to the fore; in Koija community land, 488 households were assessed, with 86% relying on livestock, while in out of 358 households surveyed in Morupusi community land, 89% of households depend on pastoralism. In Lekurruki conservancy, 78 households were surveyed, representing a total population of 613 people, where pastoralism is the main livelihood. Communities identified drought, declining pasture, human-wildlife conflict and pressure on natural resources among their key challenges, alongside opportunities in conservation, tourism and livelihood diversification.
Boundary surveys also established or verified boundaries using modern technology, with Koija’s verified boundary covering approximately 7,554 hectares, while Morupusi's surveyed area is approximately 10,773 hectares. In Lekurruki conservancy, the survey established 7,235.5 hectares.
This process made possible through support from Wyss Academy and Global Environmental Facility grants as well as the County Government of Laikipia, is enabling communities plan their land, in a way that supports livelihoods and preserves both natural and cultural resources. This process is also providing a practical basis for better grazing, water management, conservation, infrastructure, investment and development, and future land uses.
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