In May 1997, Porini Ecotourism entered into an agreement with the Selenkay Group Ranch to establish a Conservation Area on 7,000 hectares (approximately 10% of the community land) to be reserved as a habitat for wildlife. An area was selected that was not already being used for human settlement and the intention was to set this aside as an area for wildlife which could then be utilised for eco tourism to generate an income and economic benefits for the community so that they were no longer entirely dependent on livestock.

Porini Ecotourism has an exclusive lease for the conservation area, initially for 15 years and with an option to extend at the end of the lease period. Porini Ecotourism is paying an annual rental for the exclusive rights to the Conservation Area and this increases at the rate of 10% p.a. over the 15-year lease term. Porini Ecotourism is  responsible for paying an entry fee to the Group Ranch for all visitors entering the Conservation Area as well as a bednight fee for any visitor staying overnight.

Porini Ecotourism is developing the infrastructure and has installed an access road to allow entry to the Conservation Area from the Sultan Hamud turn-off on the Nairobi-Mombasa road as well as putting in place 50kms of game-viewing tracks. Two boreholes have been drilled, financed by Porini Eco tourism, as well as 3 waterholes which have been dug for wildlife. A generator and pumps have been installed so that water can be pumped from the boreholes to fill up the waterholes.

In addition to the payments as per the Lease Agreement, Porini Ecotourism has also been involved in assisting the community in repairing their windmill pump, in providing uniforms for the Community Game Scouts, in donating funds towards developing the primary school and nursery school and in deepening an existing watering hole for the community livestock. The roads have all been cut using labour from the community who have thus already started earning an income.

As a result of the establishment of the Conservation Area, the local community has already seen some benefits arising as they have been receiving a quarterly rental since May 1997 in addition to employment opportunities and assistance towards community projects. This has caused a change in attitude on the part of the community towards the concept of wildlife conservation. There is no longer any snaring or spearing of wild animals on the Group Ranch land and the community are enthusiastic about encouraging wildlife to move into their Conservation Area. For the first time in very many years, elephants have been seen in Selenkay.

Porini Ecotourism has now completed the installation of the infrastructure and is making the Conservation Area available for camping safaris by tourist visitors to generate an income to cover the operating costs and fees due to the Group Ranch.

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