The Laikipia Wildlife Forum is a pioneering wildlife management association which has challenged traditional views and prejudices amongst the local community. Its motto: Conservation In Action reflects the spirit of the people who take part in this forum, which brings together private ranchers, small scale farmers, cooperatives, local community initiatives, and tourism ventures. They are united by a common goal: to take responsibility for and protect the biodiversity of their land. The LWF Mission Statement : To conserve the integrity of the Laikipia ecosystem, by creatively managing natural resources to improve the livelihood of its people.. The organisation was created in response to an initiative by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), designed to engage landowners and land users in the conservation and management of wildlife in non-protected areas. In the last decade the LWF has advanced far beyond this initial concept, expanding its focus to include essential environmental resources such as river flow, as well as improved livelihoods and security. In 1995, the LWF was registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee. Membership is open to any landowner or land user in the Laikipia District. An estimated 60-70% of wildlife in Kenya are found outside protected areas, making conservation of wildlife in communal and private lands vital to the sustainability of Kenya’s wildlife resource base. For 25 years wildlife population trends have been monitored throughout Kenya by the Department of Range Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS). The results of these monitoring surveys show an alarming decline of large mammals throughout the country. Wildlife is under pressure as a result of population growth and land sub-division. Human-wildlife conflict is an increasingly volatile issue as land-use changes become incompatible with wildlife populations.