Joseph Mwakima has been working with Wildlife Works for the past twelve years as a Community Relations Officer. His main role at Wildlife Works is to develop community-led development programs and capacity building programs that increase access to community members in the project area to information and tools about environmental conservation activities, and how we can partner to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Wildlife Works in conjunction with landowners and communities within Kasigau Corridor is protecting more than 500,000 acres of woodland forests which is home to over 20 species of bats, 300 species of birds and 50 species of large mammals, including IUCN Red List species such as Grevy’s Zebra, Cheetah, Lion, African Wild Dog as well as over 2,000 African elephants. Through the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project, Wildlife Works has invested in forest-based economies, creating a positive impact to rural communities in which Joseph plays a key role. Another aspect of his role at Wildlife Works is to ensure community-centered forest protection project credits’ economic development activities are implemented in a transparent manner. Before joining Wildlife Works, Joseph worked for a civil rights organization in coastal Kenya as a Human Rights Officer and with the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission of Kenya (TJRC). Joseph is an environmental champion, a speaker, and lives with his family in the Tsavo Conservation area in Kenya.