LECTURE ELEVEN
Introduction and definition of terms
1.1 Introduction
This lecture provides an introduction to the background of environmental conservation in Kenya, role of communities working together in sustainable conservation, importance of environmental conservation in Kenya.
The lecture covers:
Lecture objectives 2. Back ground of environmental conservation in Kenya 3. Role of communities working together in sustainable conservation 4. Importance of environmental conservation in Kenya 8. Further activities 9. summary 10. suggestions for further reading.
1.2 Lecture objectives
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By the end of this course the learner should be able to:
Discuss the back ground of environmental conservation in Kenya.
(ii) Explain the role of communities working together in sustainable conservation.
(iii) Explain the importance of environmental conservation in Kenya.
1.3 e-tivity
protected areas
Numbering, sequencing: 1.3
Title: introduction to environmental conservation in Kenya
Brief summary of task:
- read the document below at Url
- read the online documents below and open the links provided to watch you tube videos (section 1.13)
Spart or simulator: protected zones
Individual task: using bullet points/paragraphs,
a) discuss the background of environmental conservation in Kenya.
b) discuss the role of communities working together in sustainable conservation.
c) Importance of environmental conservation in Kenya.
Interaction begins:
a) post two questions related to conservation in Kenya
b) provide feedback to learners views.
E-moderator interventions:
a) ensure learners are focused on discussions.
b) stimulate further learning.
c) provide feedback on learning progress.
d) Close e-tivity.
Schedule and time: this should take 30 minutes.
1.4 Environmental Conservation in Kenya
Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, the country has prioritized the protection of its land alongside the development of its people. The focus on environmental conservation in Kenya benefits agriculture, alleviates poverty and promotes sustainable development. Kenya is rich in biodiversity, containing deserts, savannas, wetlands, coral reefs and over 1 million hectares of closed-canopy indigenous forests. The country has nearly 35,000 known species of plants, animals and microorganisms. Historically, Kenya has been active in international climate conventions. In 2010, with the adoption of a new constitution, the Kenyan government made environmental conservation a civil obligation. The 2010 constitution takes an ecological perspective to sustainable development, advocating for conservation in the interest of both the earth and humanity.
1.4.1 Background on environmental conservation in Kenya
Environmental management and rehabilitation strategies are essential in Kenya, as 70% of the country’s workers are employed in agriculture. In addition to this, ecotourism makes up nearly 20% of the country’s GDP.
Despite Kenya’s economic reliance on environmental health, 80% of the country’s land is arid or semi-arid. Only a small percentage of land is suitable for growing crops, and even these fertile areas are fragile. With poor agricultural management, the topsoil is easily washed away.
Kenya’s poorest are the most likely to live in arid regions. Poverty cyclically increases with the scarcity of productive soil, clean water, effective sanitation and market opportunities. Without these critical resources, the poor are unable to improve their livelihoods.
Environmental conservation in Kenya is key to its development. While enforcing conservation is challenging due to population pressures, raising public awareness of environmental issues could also raise support for such measures.
As smallholder farmers seek arable land, they encroach on Kenya’s indigenous forests. Because of Kenya’s richness in non-timber forest products such as medicinal plants, essential oils and beeswax, the destruction of its forests harms both its wildlife and its economy. Conserving the forests is pivotal to protecting both Kenya’s resources and its 50 endangered species.
The beautiful mangrove forests and coral reefs that line Kenya’s Indian Ocean border are also a substantial form of revenue for the country, providing both ecotourism destinations and ecosystem services.
1.4.2 Communities Work Together for Sustainable Conservation
To further promote the ecological perspective of Kenya’s government, the Nature Conservancy and the Northern Rangelands Trust have collaborated to develop community conservancies in the northern semi-arid grasslands. These conservancies cover three million hectares, within which over 200,000 people from 17 different ethnic tribes reside. They strive to help Kenyan communities engage in environmental conservation.
The conservancies protect communal land for livestock and wildlife, teach grazing management techniques and provide opportunities for alternative income sources such as tourist lodges and campsites. The Northern Rangelands Trust also helps connect pastoralists to their markets, helping them access fair prices for their sustainably raised livestock.
Environmental conservation in Kenya greatly benefits its economic and social development. Sustainable development can help Kenya achieve the Kenya Vision for 2030, transforming the country into a clean, secure, middle-income nation.
1.5 Importance of Environmental conservation in Kenya
.1 Importance of agriculture
Agriculture relies on the environment, and so do we rely on agriculture. A country’s wealth could be measured on its ability to feed its people, although not all nations can produce agriculturally. Conserving the environment, with regards to agriculture, could mean preventing soil erosion, flooding and desertification, and could help its citizen have something to eat. Unsustainable farming techniques impact natural ecosystems and make farming impossible.
2. Importance to fishing
The various bodies of water, like the oceans, lakes and seas are another source of essentials such as food. All over the world, communities depend on seafood and related activities. Marine conservation is therefore vital in protecting human food supplies, human activities and marine animals. It saves more animals from extinction and also feeds land animals which depend on water. Some of the major challenges affecting the oceans include overfishing and pollution.
3. Importance to the climate
Human activities have a direct impact on the climate and a subsequent effect on all life. Global warming, linked to greenhouse gas emissions, which is an adverse effect on the climate, results in droughts, floods, rising sea levels and cases of extreme heat and cold.
Climate change is a result of human activities and has been linked to excess rainfall, extreme weather and a change in regular weather patterns. Conserving natural environments should be done to see these extreme outcomes reversed, making the world a better place. For instance, reforesting will bring about rainfall, which will facilitate agriculture.
4. Excellent water quality
Conservation measures ensure there is excellent-quality water for all. This, in turn, has both social, environmental and economic benefits. Economically, conservation of the environment boosts tourism, provides catch for fishing, decreases the cost of healthcare, and provides an environment for the ecotourism industry.
Socially, a conserved environment decreases the prevalence of water-borne diseases, increases the quality of water entering aquifers, helps use surface water for recreation and increases the overall quality of life. Environmentally, a conserved environment preserves the diversity of water-dependent plants and animals and preserves the various natural services of aquatic ecosystems.
5. It leads to healthy air quality
Again, a conserved environment provides good-quality air, which also has both social, economic and environmental benefits. Economically, it boosts tourism, decreases healthcare costs and decreases the erosion of buildings and pavements.
Socially, it decreases the prevalence of circulatory and lung-related diseases and also increases the quality of life for the residents. Environmentally, it preserves water quality and preserves aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
6. Preserves biodiversity
A conserved environment preserves biodiversity, which has equal benefits to the ones mentioned above. It preserves water and land-based ecosystems, preserves energy flow throughout the biosphere, provides for natural services, preserves food webs, and boosts nature-based tourism.
7. It protects wildlife
Environmental conservation protects wildlife and promotes biodiversity. Maintaining a healthy and functional ecosystem helps prevent the extinction of certain animal species. If the environment is destroyed, some animals are forced out of their habitat, making it hard for them to survive elsewhere. It could also bring about human and animal conflict, which ends disastrously for both species.
8. It protects the earth
Environmental conservation definitely protects and safeguards the environment from certain factors that are wrecking the planet, such as climate change. We need to reduce the amount of harm we are inflicting on the planet as it is contributing to its destruction. If we do not conserve the environment, nature has a ferocious way of fighting back, such as extreme weather, droughts and heavy rains which are negatively affecting our lives, our food, and homes. We have to do everything humanly possible to conserve the environment, for the planet.
9. It protects human health
Environmental conservation will in turn protect and improve human lives and health. If the environment is destroyed, new diseases emerge, and species that could help produce medicines are destroyed. Wild habitats are particularly important as they prevent emerging infectious diseases from jumping from animals to humans.
The Ebola outbreak, for instance, is an animal disease that jumped to humans and is believed to have been spread to humans by bats. The same could also be said about COVID-19 which has so far claimed the lives of over 1.18 million people in 2020 alone. Simply put, we cannot be healthy in an unhealthy environment. We have to conserve the environment t for our own health and future.
