In the late 1970′s drought and warfare forced the Mursi to migrate in search of ba lalini, cool ground. We work for land and livelihood security, and peace, ‘cool ground’, for the people of lower Omo, Ethiopia.
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The Tama Community Conservation Area
Brief of the Mursi Community Conservation Area
The Mursi, Bodi, Kwegu, and Ari indigenous groups of southwest Ethiopia, were granted permission for a joint community wildlife conservation area (CCA) in 2023 after 13 years of petitioning the Ethiopian government. This 500,000-acre area is on their ancestral territory. It has giraffe, elephant, lion, cape buffalo, endangered African wild dog, cheetah, leopard, hippo and many other species. These four groups manage the conservation area and employ scouts from the communities. The CCA will provide economic development for the four groups that have experienced hunger in recent years.
Significant work has been done since 2023 to establish the CCA. The management plan, and bylaws were completed and the community conservation council have been formed. A scout force of 20 Mursi and Bodi scouts are employed to stop hunting, trapping and wildlife trafficking.
Cool Ground has been instrumental in the formation of, and setting up, of the Tama CCA over the last 16 years. It is the major support NGO, facilitating capacity building for local people to manage the Tama.
Unfortunately, the Tama CCA was severely impacted by the recent USAID cuts. It is struggling to continue with the loss of this funding and is seeking support.
Mursi territory and the Omo and Mago National Parks
