Download the full outlook report below:

The workshop created a strong platform for knowledge exchange between university researchers and Maasai herders. Participants explored open science tools to track weather patterns in real time and to model predictions of climate extremes for use in local settings.

​Discussions also focused on developing short courses for community members without technical backgrounds, helping to recognize and integrate local knowledge into formal disaster preparedness and response planning.
The event highlighted the value of research that genuinely includes communities and encouraged participants to continue building collaborative approaches.

Download full workshop report below.

​👉 [Click below to download the magazine] ​

Download the Amboseli vegetation bulletin below.

Download the full outlook report below.

Download full the bulletin below.

Download the full outlook report below.

Download full report below.

​The outlook after the long rains

The exceptionally heavy and prolonged El Niño rains were fortuitous and timely in boosting the slow post-drought recovery of pastures, the body condition of wildlife and livestock, and milk production. The outlook through the coming dry season is favorable for further recovery due to the low grazing pressure on the pastures. The boost to livestock and wildlife recovery should be taken as an opportunity to avoid the recurrent droughts, heavy wildlife and livestock mortalities, and huge economic losses incurred due to prolonged loss of milk yields and suppressed market prices for livestock sales.
The long-term ACP monitoring shows the causes of the growing intensity and frequency of droughts to be persistence grazing pressure due to permanent settlement and lack of pasture rotation (Western et al., 2015; Western & Mose, 2021). Lessons learned from the 2022-2023 drought indicate that most herders see the prevention of future livestock and economic losses to be better grazing management though pasture rotation, grass banking, supplementary feeding of animals at homesteads, and early warning systems allowing herders to sell livestock at favorable prices before drought losses (Kimiti et al., 2023).
The biggest threat to the future of the Amboseli pastoral lands and wildlife is subdivision leading to the loss of the open rangelands and the inability of herds to follow seasonal pastures. The Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan 2020-2030 (AEMP), as well as subdivision plans for Ololarashi-Ogulului and Mbirikani, fully recognize the threat of unregulated subdivision and the need to sustain the open rangelands for livestock and wildlife alike.
 
The Rangelands Division of the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) provides a means and opportunity to incorporate the lessons learned from recurrent droughts into the land use plans, rotational pasture plans, and better livestock production and marketing management systems.
ACP will work closely with AET and partners to provide the information and devise strategies to sustain the open rangelands through AEMP.  
 
References
Kimiti, S., Western, D., Mose, V. N., Kasaine, P., Kimiti, S., & Lekanaiya, S. (2023). Post-Drought Perceptions of Herders on Livestock Production in the Amboseli Ecosystem: Impacts, Coping Strategies, and Future Sustainability. www.amboseliconservation.org
Western, D., & Mose, V. N. (2021). The changing role of natural and human agencies shaping the ecology of an African savanna ecosystem. Ecosphere, 12(6), e03536.
Western, D., Mose, V. N., Worden, J., & Maitumo, D. (2015). Predicting extreme droughts in savannah Africa: A comparison of proxy and direct measures in detecting biomass fluctuations, trends and their causes. PLoS ONE, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136516
 

Download full PDF report below.

​A notable discussion at the forum focused on disparities in data availability between the Global North and South, particularly regarding high resolution satellite data. During a roundtable session, Victor emphasized the need to support locally-led research in developing data products directly applicable to local issues. He highlighted the Amboseli Conservation Program's use of satellite data from Earth Observation to create visually interactive products guiding herders in monitoring environmental conditions, pasture levels, grazing availability, milk yields, livestock health, and market prices in Southern Kenya.
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The Amboseli program utilizes satellite products to forecast local droughts as happened in 2022-2023 and employs long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture conditions and rainfall to provide herders with environmental outlooks. This information prompted the county government of Kajiado to provide food and water for schoolchildren and encouraged herders to sell their livestock early, mitigating drought-related losses. Furthermore, the Amboseli program incorporates artificial intelligence to streamline data processing, reducing time and costs associated with producing these valuable insights.