Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP):

The Amboseli Conservation Programme (ACP) conducts long term ecological monitoring and sound science for the conservation of the Greater Amboseli Ecosystem. Established in 1967 by Dr. David Western, ACP continues to work with local communities and research and conservation partners to enhance our understanding of the interactions between pastoralism and wildlife to sustain the integrity of the Amboseli ecosystem. The ACP team has an active research programme including long term habitat monitoring, wildlife counts, assessment of land-use and settlement patterns, and climate change. ACP is dedicated to applying the results of this work to the betterment of conservation nationally and internationally.
The Amboseli Conservation Programme has the following goals:
• Conduct research on savanna ecosystem, aimed at understanding the processes governing biological productivity and diversity.
• Develop tools, methods and theories for sizing up the threats to biodiversity and human welfare.
• Develop conservation policies and practices to mitigate the threats.
• Build local and national capacity for conserving ecosystem diversity and function.
• Foster the collaboration needed for ecosystem-scale conservation.
• Promote sound environmental governance and practices.
• Forge national and international partnerships in pursuit of these objectives.

Outcomes from the four decades of study and groundbreaking conservation actions are detailed in the new Amboseli Conservation website, founded by Dr. Western’

Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project (UNBP):

Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project, (formerly the Gilgil Baboon Project) is located on the Eastern Laikipia Plateau between the Mukogodo Forest and Mt. Kenya. The research focuses on the socio-ecology and cognition of wild baboons as they make the transition to the modern context of human dominated ecosystems. Dr. Shirley C. Strum (Professor of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego), the Director, began her baboon research in 1972. During the past 38 years, the baboons faced sudden and radical changes because of human population increase, change in human land use, and the loss of biodiversity. Baboons are among the most versatile of primate, second only to humans in their ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Baboons are ecological detectives helping to predict the possible futures of other large African mammals.

UNBP has been involved in Community Based Conservation (CBC) for 28 years. It was the first primate research project to use local research assistants. Today, trained para-behaviorists and para-ecologists carry out the majority of the research. The project has hosted graduate students and interns from the United States, UK, Europe, and Kenya. Currently UNBP's does its community work in partnership with ACC and is responsible for conservation education in the area, mitigation of human-baboon conflict and development and training for several ecotourism products (Walking with Baboons; Walking with Maasai and their Cattle; Plant Walks). UNBP continues to work on ecologically sound enterprise development (Opuntia fruit syrup).