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Acacia
Tree Conservation
Not
only is the Acacia tree essential to the elephant habitat, but
the elephant is also essential to the future of the Acacia tree.
The trees provide much needed shade, and during "podding"
season, elephants feed on thousands of Acacia tortilis seed
pods and distribute them far and wide in their dung droppings.
This gives the seeds a chance to germinate away from the old
trees.
However,
elephants also harm the trees. They strip the bark from Acacia
trees, resulting in the death of the tree when a full circle
of bark is removed. Elephant Watch Safaris and Save
the Elephants are cooperating on two projects aimed to protect
the Acacia trees of the Samburu National Reserve, as well as
surrounding areas.
The
first project, Wire Trees, involves wrapping
the trunk of a tree with wire (see photo on left). This simple
process is highly effective in protecting the trees, as the
elephants seem to avoid trees wrapped in wire.
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The
second project, Bees and Trees, will both protect
the trees and help the economy of local people. It has been
shown that when elephants begin stripping bark from trees hung
with beehives, the bees swarm and chase the elephant away. A
total of 80 log hives will be placed in large trees along the
Ewaso River and outside of the park boundary. Through the sale
of by-products, such as honey and beeswax, the local economy
will benefit.
EWS
also plans to support the local school with technical advice
in harvesting, packaging, marketing and sale of honey. The local
Samburu schools have had major financial problems providing
their students with basic necessities, such as food. It is hoped
that the beehive project will provide the schools with sustainable
income. In addition, students will be actively participating
in conservation of the park and surrounding areas. Ideally this
local honey will be sold to and in lodges within the Samburu
and Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
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Also,
EWS camp, as well as Olerai
House, uses the wood from trees that are unsavable to make
furniture, such as bed frames, coffee tables, and bookcases.
EWS
would like to express their sincere appreciation to the African
Elephant Conservation Trust (AECT) for funding the Bees
and Trees project. In the photo at left, Susannah Rouse, Chair
of the AECT board, visits with the staff at Elephant Watch Camp.
If
you would like to make a contribution to support any of the
EWS projects, please contact Oria Douglas-Hamilton at elephantwatch@africaonline.co.ke.
A contribution of any amount will help make a difference!
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