NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya is urging the global community to include wildlife conservation in climate change negotiations, emphasizing the profound impact of climate crises on its iconic species.
Shadrack Ngene, Wildlife Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the urgency of integrating wildlife discussions into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) during a recent climate session.
“Wildlife suffers the effects of climate change just as we do,” Ngene stated, referencing the devastating drought of 2022 that led to significant wildlife deaths across Kenya’s ecosystems.
The 2022 drought underscored the vulnerability of Kenya’s diverse wildlife.
A report by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) revealed alarming figures: over 1,000 deaths of species such as elephants, wildebeests, and zebras due to dwindling water and pasture resources.
Particularly affected ecosystems included Amboseli, Tsavo, and Laikipia-Samburu.
Statistics from Kenya’s 2021 wildlife census provide a glimpse into the stakes: the country hosts 36,280 elephants, 2,589 lions, and 13,530 Maasai giraffes, among others.
Yet, drought conditions between October 2021 and May 2022 resulted in 512 wildebeest deaths, 381 zebras, 205 elephants, and 49 Grevy’s zebras.
Ngene noted that during the drought, Kenya implemented targeted feeding programs for endangered species like the Grevy’s zebra, underscoring the importance of immediate interventions to safeguard biodiversity.
Kenya’s efforts to combat climate change align closely with its wildlife conservation initiatives.
Protected areas, which cover 19pc of the country’s land, play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity and serving as carbon sinks. These areas include national parks, reserves, and community conservancies.
The government is committed to expanding community conservancies from 11pc to 20pc of land by 2030. This move aims to enhance carbon sequestration, bolster sustainable tourism, and promote adaptive land-use practices.
Ngene emphasized that wildlife is integral to Kenya’s climate strategies, contributing to mitigation, adaptation, and resilience efforts.
During the session, experts highlighted the role of forest elephants in the Congo Basin, which boost carbon storage in forest ecosystems by 7pc, a natural process vital for global climate mitigation efforts.
Kenya’s rich biodiversity, spanning savannahs, lush forests, and even the snowcapped peaks of Mount Kenya, is home to 25,000 animal species and 7,000 plant species.
