The Trust

The Trust

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust  (MWCT) works to protect the legendary ecosystems and astounding biodiversity of East Africa through conservation that directly benefits local Maasai communities.

Founded in 2,000 by Luca and Antonella, the Trust is now chaired by UNEP Champion of the Earth, Samson Parashina, and its President is UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity, Edward Norton. UNDP celebrated MWCT by awarding it the Equator Prize, at Rio+20, in 2012.

The world increasingly relies on many traditional communities like the Maasai to protect the ecological treasures that exist within the land that they own. But the incredible wilderness and wildlife of Africa’s grasslands and the famous culture of the Maasai people both face daunting threats to their long-term survival. The fate of both rests with the Maasai themselves as they work to figure out how to benefit from their incredible natural resources while preserving them. That’s what MWCT is all about—a pioneering partnership between professional conservationists and dynamic young Maasai leaders to show that the Maasai community can thrive, not just survive, by managing their ecosystem wisely.

The Maasai communities of this area own all of the land between the protected National Parks and within their land lie critical wildlife migration corridors and habitat reserves, forests that are carbon sinks, and rivers and springs that supply the fresh water not only to this ecosystem but to more than seven million people in Kenya, including the second-largest city. MWCT funds and operates Education, Health, and Conservation programs that promote sustainable economic benefits from conserving this ecosystem.

Download the MWCT Annual Impact Report 2022

Download the List of essential items you can donate to the Trust during your stay.