2024 Report

State of Conservancies in Kenya

Kenya’s conservancies are one of Africa’s most significant conservation success stories — a network led by local people, rooted in communities, and transforming how land, wildlife and livelihoods coexist. The 2024 State of Conservancies Report provides the clearest picture yet of their scale, achievements and promise.

At a glance

245

Conservancies safeguarding 10.6 million hectares

15%

Of Kenya’s landmass under conservation

65%

Of wildlife living outside national parks

1.3M

Households benefiting from nature-based enterprises

4,200+

Rangers protecting wildlife & communities

New conservancies proposed

The Report

What the 2024 report tells us

Conservancies are no longer the future of conservation — they are its present, where people and nature already thrive together.

Committee members studying the Kamuthe community land activity map

A national network taking root

Over three decades, conservancies have grown from local initiatives into a nationwide network — 245 conservancies now safeguard 10.6 million hectares, linking critical wildlife corridors from Amboseli to Laikipia and across the Mara.

Conservation anchored in communities

Home to more than 1.3M households, conservancies generate income through tourism, livestock, carbon and restoration while improving access to health, education and clean water — with women and youth increasingly taking leadership roles.

Economic & ecological impact

Conservancies generate billions of shillings annually while maintaining migration routes, protecting water catchments and restoring rangelands — with 4,200+ rangers patrolling these landscapes daily.

Challenges & opportunities

Many conservancies remain young and under-resourced, facing insecure tenure, limited capacity and inconsistent financing — challenges that also open the door to new financing models and stronger local governance.

The promise ahead

With more than 90 new conservancies proposed, Kenya could soon protect nearly a quarter of its land — positioning the country to lead on the global 30x30 target through mechanisms like the Kenya Conservancies Fund.

Interactive Maps

Explore the conservancy maps

Kenya’s conservancies mapped across landscapes, counties and conservancy types. All three maps live on the Maps & GIS page, alongside the spatial data behind them.