The Grevy’s Zebra population has declined faster than that of any other African mammal, falling from 15,000 individuals in the 1970s to just 2,350 today. Only half of the Grevy’s Zebra live in protected areas. So what will save this majestic zebra from extinction? This film follows the efforts of dedicated local residents who have volunteered to work as community scouts and ambassadors for the Grevy’s and to address the threats they face. The film also profiles the bi-annual census conducted by the Grevy’s Zebra Trust.
A film by Simon Mukali
Between 1990 and 2010, Burundi lost 40.5 per cent of its forest cover or around 117,000 hectares. Illegal cutting of trees for charcoal production is the primary cause for this drastic decline. Charcoal burning is big business in a country that depends almost entirely on this inexpensive fuel for cooking. But the long-term consequences of Burundi's deforestation will be dire. By 2040 all of Burundi's forest will be gone.
A film by Aimée Nshimirimana
Almost every year the Nyando River in western Kenya breaks its banks and nearby residents are forced to cope with massive flooding. Entire towns are submerged and precious crops are washed away. In April 2017, catastrophic floods swept through Kenya displacing hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom were forced into makeshift refugee camps. But is the annual deluge a natural disaster or a man-made catastrophe?
A film by Samuel Waweru & Humphrey Odhiambo
In Kenya's dry south-east there is a critical wildlife migration corridor called Kasigau, connecting Tsavo East and West National Parks. More than 2000 elephants share the land with local communities, who have traditionally survived by bushmeat poaching and charcoal production. But in just 10 years a conservation non-profit called Wildlife Works has turned a dire situation around, by effective use of carbon credits. The income provided has supported 120 rangers, 300 local jobs and thousands of scholarships for local students. Is it a model for other conservancies?
A film by Kabinda Lemba
Pollinators are responsible for the production of various crops, fruits, fibres, medicinal plants and the regeneration of wild plants. However, many farmers lack the knowledge to identify the beneficial insects from damaging pests. At the same time, indiscriminate use of pesticides as clearing techniques are contributing to their decline. There are serious implications in pollinator destruction for food security, livelihoods, human health, industries and the global economy. This film showcases some of the pollinators and highlights how important it is for scientists and farmers to work together for conservation and better yields and incomes.
A film by Martha Mutiso & Caroline Njoki
The indigenous Sengwer people have been hunters and gatherers in Kenya's Embobut Forest and Cherengani Hills since ancient times. But unlike most traditional communities in Kenya, they were never given title to their land. The Kenya Forest Service has in the past tried to evict them from what is now a Forest Reserve. Violence erupted again in January 2018, when Sengwer herders were shot and killed. This story looks at the Sengwer's struggle for land rights, exposes illegal logging by officials and examines the challenges of inclusion when conservation and development collide with indigenous opposition.
A film by Joan Kabugu
Cheetahs, the world's fast land mammals, are racing towards extinction. In 1975, 14,000 cheetahs roamed Africa. Today there are only 7,100 cheetahs left in all of Africa and only 600 in Kenya. The biggest reason for their decline here is the fencing off of Kenya's wild spaces. Uncontrolled development cuts off the wildlife corridors needed by this most endangered of the big cats. This is a story about the cheetah's fight for survival as they leap into the 21st Century.
A film by Teeku Patel & Amit Ramrakha
In the 1980s, 155,000 giraffes roamed the African landscape. Today, estimates put the population at less than 100,000 - a drop of almost 40 per cent. In some areas traditionally regarded as prime giraffe habitat, numbers have dropped by more than 95 per cent. After the ban on elephant trophies, 40,000 giraffe parts have been imported into the United States, to make luxury pillows and cowboy boots. This film explores the steps being taken by dedicated individuals and organizations to preserve and protect this great animal.
A film by Hassan Mugambi & David Kabiru
When the fishermen of Ras Fumba on Zanzibar Island discovered that their catch was rapidly decreasing they took action. Outsiders were ruining the marine environment by overfishing and the use of poisons and dynamite. With the help of the local government and international NGO's, they set up patrols on the newly created Menai Bay Conservation Area. Now visitors from around the world come to see how this local initiative conserved the marine environment.
A film by Richard Magumba
The Indian Ocean is one of East Africa's greatest assets, but sadly, it is under serious threat. Large scale urbanization and population growth have created an environmental crisis, one major issue being that of waste management. This film seeks to address this problem by documenting the effects of untreated sewage on the ecosystem and the health of marine and human populations in the Mombasa city area.
A film by Alan Oyugi
Mount Kenya is a sacred place for the Kikuyus who live below its southern and western slopes. The people are agriculturalists, who make use of the highly fertile volcanic soil. They also believe that Mount Kenya is God's resting place. This is a story about their worries as the rivers turn into dry furrows and climate change impacts the once mighty glaciers. The film also answers the most troubling question: “could this be the last generation to climb this age-old ice?" The answer comes from glaciologists who compare photos of the Lewis Glacier today with those from a 1912 British expedition to Mt. Kenya.
A film by Marete Selvin
Rwanda's bats have a terrible reputation for supposedly spreading Ebola and because they have been tied to “witchcraft. In fact, these massive “flying squirrels" are helping communities by keeping malarial mosquitoes and crop-eating pests at bay. Scientists are trying to educate local villagers about their utility while using the latest satellite technology to monitor bat migrations. The film visits a Rwandan bat sanctuary and breeding ground found on a secluded lake island.
A film by Lucas Rosenberg & George Birungi
The Mau Forest, the source of the Mara River, is under assault from deforestation and charcoal burning Land hungry farmers and unscrupulous politicians are responsible for the degradation of the environment, with drastic consequences for both downstream communities and wildlife, especially in the Maasai Mara Reserve. Kenya's government, conservationists and tour operators have all realized the gravity of the situation. Will they come together to save the “8th wonder of the world"- the annual wildebeest migration, and stop the violence between rival communities of pastoralists and farmers?
A film by Sheila Sendeyo & Robert Gichira co-produced with NTV Kenya
