The word, ‘Kibodo’ is the acronym for Kiunga, Boni and Dodori National Reserves (KiBoDo). The Kibodo project area is located in Lamu and Ijara districts in the North Eastern corner of coastal Kenya adjoining southern Somalia. It comprises of approximately 2,300km² of marine, forest and cultural reserves. The Kibodo area covers three large, unique and relatively unknown protected areas and their communities. They contain some of Kenya’s pristine and least documented coastal forest habitats and species, and least understood communities whose livelihoods are solely dependent upon their natural resources. The Kibodo area has historically been a region of Kenya largely forgotten by central and local Government, lacking in any meaningful investment, development or other livelihood support to resident communities. This coupled with rampant insecurity by virtue of the proximity to southern Somalia’s ‘shifta’ gangs; and a previously large population of elephant, a target for poachers on both sides of the border, resulted in a community unable to protect itself or its resources. The Kibodo project is multi-faceted with two main parallel and complimentary aims - community mobilization and development coupled with biodiversity conservation of the region. By addressing the main threats/constraints to the area Kibodo Trust believes that it can form a collaborative partnership with the local communities to protect and conserve the areas natural resources via sustainable management practices; enhancing the livelihoods of the communities through nature based enterprises and improving security within the area to enable conservation and development to succeed The objectives of the Trust are: 1.Develop Kibodo Trust as an operating entity on the ground with the establishment of vital infrastructure including a headquarters and accommodation and the employment of essential personnel 2.Strengthen the capacity of the communities and the community element of the institution through a programme of education and training at Trustee and zonal committee level. 3.Establish and implement a community led security and wildlife monitoring system 4.Initiate a sustainable, community-led fisheries resource management programme 5.Identify and facilitate the development of natural resource based enterprises that accrue sustainable and equitable benefits to the local communities involved in the project. 6.Develop a strategic plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project. 7.Advocate an effective land policy relative to the Kibodo Protected Areas and the contiguous land. 8.In line with needs identified during community strategic planning, develop health and education programmes and a fundraising strategy for the same. 9.Obtain comprehensive baseline data on biodiversity in the greater Kibodo area.