Kenya's degraded natural resources set to improve
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E-mail Xinhua, June 25, 2012
The World Bank through Kenya Coast Development Project (KCDP) has flagged off projects in Kilifi in the coastal region that seek to enhance sound management of natural resources.
These projects include a national strategy of the Sable antelope, the development of a National Mangrove Management Plan and a National Strategy on coral reefs and sea grass bed.
"Each of these activities are being guided by a national taskforce which is comprised of marine and forest scientists from the coastal region and the process seeks to establish the impending threats and mechanisms that focus on protecting and conserving the highly endangered wildlife and natural resources found at the Coastal region," Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)'s Corporate Communication Manager Salesio Mbogo said.
Mbogo noted that the project component seeks to gather a direct link between the quality of natural resources and economic growth through tourism.
He observed that coastal tourism relies on clean beaches, good water quality, and healthy marine ecosystems, all of which are in decline in Kenya.
However, promoting tourism must integrate environmental and social values in order to be sustainable.
Coastal tourism generates directly and indirectly about 24 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
About 70 percent of the per capita economic activity of the Coast region comes from tourism-related activities, placing tourism at the center of development.
Mbogo revealed that Sable antelopes are on the priority list of nationally endangered species in Kenya. Currently, the population is estimated to be 75 individuals. This is an alarming decline compared to 265 individuals in 1960.
"They have been eliminated from large areas of their former range due to a combination of factors that include diseases, predation, drought-caused food shortages, habitat loss and degradation compounded by inter-species competition," he added.
But under the leadership of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), a national conservation strategy guide has been developed to help conserve the species for posterity.
Mbogo said that following the degradation of the mangrove at the Kenyan coast, KMFRI and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) are currently developing a National Mangrove Management Plan for the conservation and protection of the mangrove forests in the coast region.
Mangroves are very efficient carbon sinks and play a key role in mitigating against climate change. In addition, they act as breeding areas for fish and other marine life.
But its degradation has occurred at an alarming rate and immediate attention is required to reverse the trend.
According to the coral reef and sea grass bed strategy, researches that relate to ecosystem health and reef resilience assessments, climate vulnerability, assessment of coastal livelihood, vulnerability to local threats and climate change are to be carried out.
In addition, mapping of coral reefs and associated habitats together with socio-economic aspects that provide for the economic valuation of coral reef resources will also be undertaken by the project.
KCDP is a World Bank sponsored project that aims at empowering residents of the Kenya coast to identify livelihood activities that are more profitable, environmentally and socially sustainable.
Its overall objective is to improve the management and use of Kenya's coastal and marine resources while strengthening conservation and utilizing biodiversity sustainably.
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