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.

MWCT funds and operates programs that promote sustainable economic benefits from conserving this ecosystem.  Lease payments for conservancy zones, carbon credits, payments for watershed protection, sustainable ecotourism, wildlife monitoring and security, conservation and tourism employment- these are just some of the ways MWCT is creating a cutting edge model of successful community-based conservation.