To: Neil Birnie and Phillip Ihenacho, Directors of the Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy, please don’t commercially develop the Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy. 

Subject: Petition Against Developing the Lolldaiga Valley Conservation Area with Commercial Housing

Friends of the Lolldaiga's are writing this petition on behalf of concerned citizens, conservationists, and lovers of the Lolldaiga's rich and diverse wildlife to express our strong opposition to the proposed commercial housing development in the Southern section of the Lolldaiga Hills.

Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy, situated in the heart of Laikipia County, is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, stunning landscapes, and crucial role in wildlife conservation.To develop this landscape that has been a designated protectorate of wildlife for more than one-hundred years is degrading.  The promoters of this commercial project sit on the Boards of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Africa, Lolldaiga Hills Ltd, African Nature Investors and the Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy, and are the sole beneficiaries of the money making scheme.  This in itself makes a mockery of what conservation stands for. 

The Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy boasts the area’s healthiest riverine forest along the Timau River, which is critical to the maintenance of the biodiversity of the entire Lolldaiga Hills region, including neighbouring conservancies and villages. We believe that the integrity of this precious ecosystem must be preserved for the benefit of current and future generations, as well as for the continued existence of the Lolldaiga'sunique and endangered wildlife species.  

This commercial housing project will litter the Conservancy with intense fencing, kilometers of roads, 50 plus houses, swimming pools, power lines, bore holes, and generators, creating extensive noise and human intrusion on land set aside for wildlife protection.  The result of the development will cut off larger game, many endangered, from the forest where they browse, drink, seek shelter and help rejuvenate the forest.  

In terms of water consumption, conservatively the average daily water consumption of a single house is 349 litres, essentially what 5 elephants would drink in a day.  With 58 houses commercial houses, without swimming pools (the average swimming pool holds 61,000 litres of water), the commercial project will consume a minimum of 20,242 litresof water a day (over 607,000 litres a month) in the LolldaigaValley Conservancy, equivalent to what 298 elephants need to drink.  

The Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy’s forest along the Timau River serves as a vital habitat for countless species of flora and fauna, that sustains many species. The forests water supply and vegetation is the reason that large game such as buffalo, elephants, zebra, giraffe and other species live in the area.  The large game are significant tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the world and generating revenue for the conservation areas and local communities.This commercial housing projects promises to fence out all large wildlife from accessing the riverine forest. 

Our concerns regarding the proposed commercial housing development within Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy are as follows:

1. Habitat Destruction: Building commercial housing developments within conservation areas will result in the destruction of critical wildlife habitats. This habitat loss can lead to the displacement and endangerment of many species, disrupt their natural behaviors, and ultimately threaten their survival.

2. Human-Wildlife Conflict: By commercially developing a conservation area, wildlife will be pushed out into the local community areas, increase the likelihood of conflicts between wildlife and local communities. These conflicts often result in harm to both humans and animals and can lead to retaliatory killings of wildlife.

3. Environmental Degradation: The construction and maintenance of housing developments can have severe environmental impacts, including deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and disruption of natural watercourses. The Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy is in a low annual rainfall area.  A commercial housing development of this magnitude could result in the increased pressure on water supply affecting the wildlife and in particular local communities. These developments may also contribute to climate change through increased carbon emissions.

4. Economic Impacts: Tourism is a significant source of revenue for the neigbouring conservancies, drawing visitors from around the world and contributing to the livelihoods of local communities.  Destroying the natural beauty and displacing the wildlife in this area through developing a commercial housing development could deter tourists, harming the livelihoods of those dependent on tourism and the local economy.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that Neil Birnie and Phillip Ihenacho reconsider and halt the proposed development of commercial housing within the Lolldaiga Valley Conservancy in Laikipia.  Instead, we urge you to explore sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives that can preserve the integrity of our natural heritage.

We firmly believe that the protection and conservation of the Lolldaiga Valley and greater Lolldaiga Hills are essential for the long-term well-being of the Laikipia region, its wildlife and unique biodiversity. We hope you will give due consideration to our concerns and act in the best interests of our environment, wildlife, and future generations.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.