Kenya

Kenya's Vision 2030 proposes to offer a high quality of life to all its citizens, on both the economic and the environmental front. The development of a national green economy strategy has been identified as a priority to support the implementation of Vision 2030.

NATIONWIDE MOBILIZATION

LAUNCH WORKSHOP

9 March 2020

Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization – NAIVASHA

The BIODEV2030 project was officially launched in Kenya during a workshop that brought together stakeholders expert in biodiversity who participated in the drafting of the 6th National Biodiversity Report in Kenya. This launch workshop was the opportunity to present to participants the objectives of the BIODEV2030 project, to discuss the methods for studying the threats and introducing the new STAR measure enabling their evaluation and analysis.

Kenya-reunion lancement
Workshop of stakeholders in the 6th National Report on Biodiversity, at the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KARLO), Naivasha, Kenya.


Diagnosis

The challenge: addressing the causes of biodiversity loss in Kenya

Kenya is divided into five zones with very varied landscapes (forests, plains, mountains, grasslands, semi-arid scrub…) and also coastal and maritime ecosystems. Fresh and salt water ecosystems cover about 8% of Kenya’s surface area. These areas are essential for biodiversity, food production, hydrological stability, mineral cycles and the country’s socio-economic development. Fresh and salt water expanses are essential as part of the equilibrium of many migratory birds, but also for feeding the inhabitants and in their day-to-day lives (fishing, mangrove woods, economic activity, etc.).

Kenya also has many protected areas (national parks, reserves and sanctuaries), however more than 70% of the country’s biodiversity is located outside these areas managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which makes it particularly exposed to threats and poses a number of conservation challenges. Kenya also has a wealth of mammal species 14 of which are endemic to the country such as the African elephant, the black rhinoceros, the buffalo, the leopard and also the African lion.

Finally, Kenya is seeing its biodiversity threatened in a number of ways: demographic pressure, escalation of poverty and conflicts, land use practices leading to its deterioration and pollution, invasive species such as the Nile perch and water hyacinth in Lake Victoria, deterioration of corals due to climate change, the tourist industry which is eating away at fragile coastal areas …

6.220 species

assessed including 380 endemic ones

642 species

threatened including 213 endemic according to the IUCN Red List (2021-1).

49.029 ha

Primary forest lost between 2002 and 2020, i.e. 14% of the country’s total tree area.

THREATS

(source: IUCN Red List 2021-1)

Use of natural resources – Fishing & exploitation of maritime resources
Residential and commercial development – urbanisation
Agriculture – Cultivation of annual and perennial non-timber forest products
Pollution – Effluents from agriculture and the forestry industry

KEY POINTS:

To reduce the risk of extinction of species, the actions targeted at reducing anthropic risks, particularly in the Nyandaruy, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Kilifi regions have greater potential than habitat restoration actions.

Non-timber cultivation, the forestry industry, wood collection, overfishing and the development of housing and infrastructures are the anthropic activities with the greatest potential in terms of reducing risks to biodiversity.

These results are the scientific basis for the stakeholder meetings to select the 2 engagement areas.

  • Agriculture
  • Forestry

To be assessed in the drylands

Policy brief – Recommendations to mainstream biodiversity into economic sectors in Kenya (EN)

Reports – In-depth sectoral analysis and commitments’ identification for biodiversity in Kenya (EN)

Policy brief – How to combine charcoal production and biodiversity preservation in Kenya (EN)

Access to all documentary resources of Kenya