HUMMINGBIRD INSTITUTION AWARDS - 2024
Narration
Utonga Ecosystems is the owner/manager of Utonga Nature Conservancy situated within the Utonga Peninsula of Kenya's Lake Victoria. We are the 1st conservancy in Siaya County and the only conservancy with a lakefront Arboretum. Our vision is to be the most recognised and respected nature conservancy & hospitality address on Lake Victoria. We host a unique biodiversity of dense indigenous flora, mammals and birdlife (some endangered eg. Papyrus Canary and Giant Pangolin) that we are committed to preserve and protect against poachers, timber & charcoal traders and illegal fishing trollers. This conservancy has been earmarked to be the designated breeding sanctuary for the nationally endangered Sitatunga Wetlands Antelope. Complimenting the peninsula unique flora; UNC has ambitions to host a the only regional herbarium in Western Kenya (if we can secure strategic partnerships). Our initiaitives are anchored on 3 pillars that direct our interventions namely; 1. conservation & climate Action, 2. Agroforestry & Social enterprises, 3. Cultures & Heritage. We work within learning institutions (primary, secondary, TVETs & Universities) by establishing enviro-clubs and showcasing the conservancy as reference for research & education thru immersion - we have currently 300 primary students under our wings aged 10-14 we are influencing to be environmental ambassadors - in our primary school agenda, we have a 5-year renewal energy/agroforestry program that we launched in schools that aims to eradicate use of firewood as cooking fuel. Our conservation CBO is primary instrument to engage the general public Beyond the conservancy we advocate and initiate for lake water habitat conservation and reforestation. In the next 10 year we shall transform the Utonga Peninsula to be know as the most active conservation address on Lake Victoria.