World Wildlife Day 2022 – Recovering Key Species For Ecosystem Restoration
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3rd March as a UN World Wildlife Day. The day is set aside to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”. The celebrations seek to draw attention to the conversation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
According to International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered or vulnerable. It is estimated that over a million species are threatened with extinction. Continued loss of species, habitats and ecosystem threatens all life on earth. People everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet all their needs, from food to fuel, medicines, housing, and clothing.
The programmes of work developed under the convention on biological diversity (CBD) encourage countries to take a wide range of actions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The convention provides for;
- The establishment of a system of protected area of areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biodiversity.
- Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded ecosystems and the promotion of recovery of threatened species, inter alia through the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies.
- Preventing the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species.
World Wildlife 2022 was celebrated in Kenya at the Nairobi National Park, Ivory Burning Site. The event was presided over by Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service Brig. (Rtd.), John Waweru, EBS. The chief guest was Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Hon. Najib Balala. In attendance were invited guests from the Tourism and Hospitality sector, Stakeholders, Foreign Embassies, International Organization and Members of the Press.
The occassion was jointly celebrated with launch the first White Rhino Conservation and Management Action Plan (2021-2025). The CS in his address said that this is for a good reason; the white Rhinoceros are categorised as near threatened on the IUCN Red List and the northern sub-species or northern white Rhino is listed as critically endangered.
He went on to explain that the population of the southern white Rhino in Kenya has undergone rapid growth since introduction, with current population estimated at 871 individuals from the 51 individuals introduced from Southern Africa in the 1960s, 1970s and 1990s. This necessitated development of a separate action plan for the species to guide on best practice for its conservation and management.
He was happy to note that KWS has formulated over 20 national species strategies and action plans for implementation. “I wish to single out a few of these plans, including those of the black Rhino, Elephant, Lion and spotted Hyena, Gravy’s Zebra, Mountain Bongo, Hirola, Roan and Sable antelopes, Coral Reefs and Invasive species, among others. On species for which recovery plans have not been developed, efforts are being made to initiate the process in collaboration with stakeholders”.
In conclusion the CS took the opportunity to express Kenya’s appreciation and pride to host the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) currently going on at UNEP headquarters, in Nairobi. “I invite delegates to this conference to spare their free time to visit Nairobi National Park which is only a few kilometres from the Assembly meeting”. He urged the delegates to visit other parks across the country once the conference is over to sample Kenya’s attractive wildlife in parks and reserves.
Lead agencies, stakeholders and guests were presented a signed copy of the White Rhino Conservation & Management Action Plan 2021-2025)
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Recovering key species and ecosystem restoration in Kenya
A. Species recovery efforts
Section 49 (4) wildlife act 2013 states that; the cabinet secretary shall report bi-annually to the national assembly through the national wildlife conservation status report on the status of efforts to develop and implement a recovery plan for all nationally listed species and on the status of all species for which such plan have been developed
B. Habitat recovery initiatives
There are numerous global, regional, national, and even sub-national targets for the increasing forest area and forest restoration. At the global level, this includes the Bonn challenge, the Aichi target fifteen of the convention on biological diversity. Kenya targets to restore 5.1 million hectares by 2030. The initiatives include;
C. Control and management of invasive species
The speed of plant and animal invasive species creates complex and far-reaching challenges that threaten both the natural, biological riches of the earth and the wellbeing of mankind. Invasive alien plants may permanently alter natural ecosystems and services and benefits they provide in nature and to people. They may also provide suitable habitats for organisms that may pose a threat to human or animal health.
D. Natural regeneration using enclosures
Natural regeneration significantly reduces the cost of restoration in areas that meet certain conditions. Native species that are adapted to the prevailing conditions reestablish on their own with some assistance, achieving accelerated growth in accordance with natural succession, leading to the recovery of native eco systems.
E. Enrichment planting
Enrichment planting is the introduction of valuable species to degraded landscapes without the elimination of valuable individuals which already exist in that site. Most of the protected areas carry out rehabilitation of degraded sites by enrichment planting.
F. REDD++(Reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation plus conservation, sustainable management of forest, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks). This is a mechanism that was introduced by the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFGCCC) as a climate change mitigation strategy to prevent deforestation and forest degradation by active forest protection that would provide alternative livelihoods to communities living adjacent to forest areas.
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