Interviewee

Martin Forster

CMC Motors Chairman, Mara Conservancy Chairman and a Board Member of other conservation and educational organizations

Interviewers

Alison M. Jones

NWNL Director and Photographer

Alison M. Fast

Videographer

In Nairobi, Kenya on October 8, 2009

Introductory Note

Martin Forster is a successful corporate executive with a huge concern for the greater good of Kenya’s economy, much of which is based on the success of Kenyan tourism. Martin follows that straight line and provides an example for others in how to support wildlife, ecosystems and rivers that in turn support millions of Kenyans of all ages. One specific aspect in promoting awareness of the values of Kenya’s wildlife and tourism is education – so Martin is also a great supporter of schools. 

Over many years of visiting Kenya, I have heard of Martin’s guiding role and support of Kenya’s progress into a stronger future. I have listened to his wise advice to the Mara Conservancy during the heady days of its launch and the early years of establishing its stability. Kenya owes Martin many thanks for his support of conservation. 

The Mara Conservancy uses vehicles donated by CMC Motors for many tasks - from pursuing poachers to supplying rangers in remote posts

Outline

THE MARA CONSERVANCY MODEL
THE MARA RIVER
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY in CONSERVATION
EDUCATION of CONSERVATION ISSUES

Key Quote  I think corporate companies, such as my own, can play a bigger game in conservation of wildlife, the forest and all that. Not enough is being done by corporations, nor by government. – Martin Forster

All images © Alison M. Jones, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

NWNL Martin, thank you for making time for this chat and for sharing your knowledge of conservation issues and the roles of all involved here in Kenya. I’d like to start with your sharing your background, relative to our common interests.

MARTIN FORSTER  I’m the Group Executive of a motor trading company in East Africa. including Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. As a conservationist, I’m the Chairman of the Mara Conservancy and Chairman of a new conservancy we’re creating down in Galena, near Malindi [on the Indian Ocean coast]. I’m also a trustee on the Mt. Kenya Trust, working to make sure the trees are replanted where they’ve been destroyed.

THE MARA CONSERVANCY MODEL

NWNL  Let’s first discuss the importance of the Mara Conservancy management as a model for the rest of Kenya. What impacts occurred with the formation of this management plan?

MARTIN FORSTER  The Mara Conservancy is a very, very good, modern concept in terms of Kenya’s wildlife. It is the only publicly owned reserve run by an outside administrator serving as a contractor with the Maasai in the Trans-Mara District.

The Conservancy is 8 years old now, and it has been extremely successful. It’s a template which should be used, I believe, in all the government parks. Hopefully, one day this will happen, because the future of wildlife – in my mind – must rest in conservancies and private preserves. Many private conservancies are very successful. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, for example, is very successful in Laikipia.

Financing the Mara Conservancy supports its anti-poaching efforts, community ties and the future of its wildlife


NWNL  What are the unique characteristics of the Mara Conservancy or that of Lewa Conservancy?

MARTIN FORSTER  What makes the Mara Conservancy unique is that it is professionally run without any political involvement. All revenues received are properly distributed — 41% of the revenue goes straight into the Trans-Mara County Council on the 15th of the month and 19% goes to the local Maasai Group Ranch to help the Maasai with their schools and their clinic.

Brian Heath, the Mara Conservancy Chief Executive is responsible for properly accounting for expenses – and there’s really quite a lot of money involved. The balance left with the Mara Conservation is for running of the place – including its vehicles. It employs a hundred people there. It has de-snaring operations and anti-poaching units. It has vehicles and tractors for grading the roads. It’s quite a concept. It is run professionally, and all books are properly audited by international auditors. So, yes — we’re very proud of the Mara Conservancy.

Financial support for anti-poaching surveillance and the Mara Conservancy’s community-based philosophy is protecting the future of the renowned wildlife and migrations within the Mara Triangle


NWNL  Are there specific examples in Kenya that have already been impacted by this model?

MARTIN FORSTER  There are many who would like to copy the model of the Mara Conservancy; but of course, politics are involved. We certainly would like to see Kenya Wildlife Services adopt the same template that the Mara Conservancy has – at least in some of their parks. At the moment, apart from Lewa Downs and Laikipia, there is just one conservancy down in Galena. Yes, this Mara Conservancy model will grow, provided we are not in conflict with the government’s wishes or the politicians’ wishes.

To my mind, it would be ideal if the Kenya Wildlife Services would adopt the Mara Conservancy concept for our government parks. If government reserves were run professionally on the lines of Mara Conservancy, it would relieve Kenya Wildlife of many headaches. Additionally, it would create more revenue if we could get outside support to run all these game reserves. Government can run Nairobi National Park since it’s easy to administer. But it doesn’t have the ability to manage its larger reserves.

Nairobi National Park is uniquely set on the very outskirts of Kenya’s capital city Nairobi

THE MARA RIVER

NWNL  How important is the Mara River to the Mara Conservancy, its wildlife and its migrations; and is it a healthy river today?

MARTIN FORSTER  My main conservation involvement is the Mara Conservancy – which is a key element to this southwest corner of the Greater Maasai Mara. It is my sadness to see how the Mara River has diminished to such a level that the river’s water has no oxygen now. Fish are dying. Much of the problem is due to the deforestation of the Mau. So, I’m glad to see that the government has now prioritized putting trees back in the forest and moving all squatters out of the Mau Forest. Without the Mara River, you can say good-bye to this wonderful animal migration every year which brings millions of wildebeest and other animals into the Mara. They will not come. 

The Mara is such an important resource for this country, brings in lots of tourists and lots of money into the country. So, it’s very important that we should save the Mara River, and save the Mau Forest for the future generations of this country.

The Mara River flows from the Mau Forest - now being cut down by timber companies, squatters and recipients of government land grants

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY in CONSERVATION

NWNL  At lunch, we discussed the role of corporations, industry and conservation of water, national reserves, national resources. Could you again share those thoughts?

MARTIN FORSTER  There’s much more that big corporations can do in Kenya to support conservation and to support all the forests. For example, in my own company, we have just planted 60,000 trees up in the Mau Forest. We were helped by hundreds of wonderful little school children who assisted us in planting the trees. We promised that next year –  if the rain comes, which I hope it will – we’ll plant 120,000 more trees.

We would like to see other corporations doing that. Maybe they are, but not enough corporations are doing that. Corporations are very successful in Kenya; and so they can afford to contribute, as part of their corporate responsibility, to all these things. Hopefully our company has now set an example, and others will follow.

NWNL  Globally this is an important issue.

MARTIN FORSTER  I think corporate companies, such as my own, can play a bigger game in conservation of wildlife, of the forest and all that. Neither corporations nor the government are doing enough. I think there should be a new emphasis from government to encourage commercial companies to do more either through tax rebate or even from other incentive. I think we must get involved in protecting of the trees and the forest and the wildlife of this country.

I don’t think the government can do it all, because they haven’t got the resources. Therefore, we as proper people must get involved in that kind of thing.

Education is now recognized and valued among all elements and tribes of Kenya’s population

EDUCATION of CONSERVATION ISSUES

NWNL  What are your thoughts about education in Kenya, especially vis a vis teaching conservation?

MARTIN FORSTER  As a corporation, we support 10 schools in Kenya. Every school supports 10 children. Normally we insist that at least half are girls because generally in Kenya, the women are really looked down upon compared to the boys.  In the Maasai Mara, we sponsor 2 schools. We also insist that part of the curriculum involves conservation and wildlife – and it does work. Every year, one of the schools comes to our company and they find out who we are, and we find out how the girls are getting on.

Some of the children we’ve sponsored are now working with our company. I think this initiative is something that could be expanded by other companies as well. I’m sure there are other companies doing it, but perhaps not enough.

NWNL  Martin, thank you for your thoughts – and mostly thank you for your leadership in Kenya regarding conservation of its amazing animals, ecosystem diversity – and of course its life-giving rivers. 

These newborn spotted hyenas are reliant on a healthy Mara River and its savannah

Posted by NWNL on June 26, 2024.
Transcription edited and condensed for clarity by Alison M. Jones.

All images © Alison M. Jones, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.