NEMA's Move To Stop Issuance Of Operation Licences In Key Conservancies Gets Applause: "Long Overdue"

• William Ruto directed that the wildlife corridors and dispersal areas task force report 2016 be implemented with the Athi-Kapiti corridor as a high-priority area
• NEMA was ordered to implement the presidential directive in the areas of Kajiado, Machakos (Athi – Kapiti corridor), Narok, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, and Baringo
• Interviewed conservationists observed that the time had come for the state to look into how it can slow the conversion of rangelands into fenced-off parcels of land

Nairobi - Conservation organisations have welcomed the decision by the government to stop the issuance of licences and permits for various projects in key wildlife conservation areas.

The areas where the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has been ordered to implement the presidential directive are Kajiado, Machakos (Athi – Kapiti corridor), Narok, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, and Baringo.

President William Ruto on Monday, July 24 also directed that the wildlife corridors and dispersal areas task force report 2016 be implemented with the Athi-Kapiti corridor as a high-priority area.

Interviewed conservationists observed that the time had come for the state to look into how it can slow the conversion of rangelands into fenced-off parcels of land.

Why Kenya should stabilise its wildlife landscapes

Executive Director, of the African Conservation Centre, and Board Chair of the Conservation Alliance of Kenya (CAK) Lucy Waruingi said that as conservationists they needed that kind of high-level approach.

“This is because we need time to stabilise our wildlife landscapes. I think that's the first big message: this is a window in the history of Kenya to stabilise our wildlife landscape and not lose the gains of the great conservation work that's been done across this country over the years,” Waruingi said.

Waruingi’ whose organisation has been pushing the move through the Ministry of Environment, to the Executive said they now have an opportunity to begin to imagine and plan for innovative economic opportunities.

“And to be clear: this is not all about space for wildlife. It's also about economic opportunities for the local people because these landscapes have a lot of potential for conservation-friendly development and investment opportunities, but we’ve not been getting enough time to breathe, to think and plan about how to develop sustainably,” Waruingi emphasised.

In the meeting between the president and the wildlife conservation players, land management matters (ownership, adjudication, change of user) in Kenya were flagged as some of the issues affecting sustainable wildlife conservation and management in the country.

William Ruto slams breaks on land subdivision

Consequently, it was decided that any further land subdivision be stopped and change of land use in the above-identified wildlife conservation areas until the conservation policy is done.

Jackson Mwato the CEO, of Amboseli Ecosystem Trust said that from where he sits, they have done it so well from a planning perspective and applauded the communities and stakeholders for that.

“We’ve classified zones for settlement, urban, livestock, conservation, tourism, mining – all have been considered. But what has been challenging is the enforcement of the land use zones and restrictions, and because of recent sub-division, people converting the rangelands to different uses that are not compatible,” he explained.

According to Mwato, the society at large and the country at large must get an awareness that people should develop land based on what’s allowed according to the zone.

“The presidential directive helps us let people know that it doesn’t matter that you have a title, what matters is what zone is it in. It is slowing the speed under which things are running in this region to help us figure out what’s what,” Mwato explained.

Why delay in registration of community land is a ticking bomb

On her part, Gladys Warigia the Policy and Advocacy Manager, at Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association said that the continued delay in registration of community lands denies the communities their rights to land access, ownership, use, and further self-determination.

“Optimising the productivity of community lands, which account for over 70% of Kenya’s land, will largely occur when the unregistered lands are registered and titled. The president has demonstrated goodwill to realise this course,” she added.

According to Warigia who doubles as an expert on Community Land Act, the realisation of the presidential directive is highly pegged with the commitment of the county governments and the Ministry of Lands and structured collaborations from partners.

“The long-term success of investments in conservation and other land uses are highly pegged to communities in Kenya having secure tenures,” she explained.

In the directive, the head of state ordered that the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning fast-track the implementation of the Community Land Act 2016.

“Also, conduct a review of the National Land Use Policy and the Physical and Land Use Act 2019 to include conservation as a land use category in the country and all MDAs responsible for various issues identified to form a multi-sectoral team to formulate and implement the country’s conservation policy to be spearheaded by the State Department for Wildlife (SDW),” Ruto said.

John Kamanga, the CEO of the Southern Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO), expressed gratitude following the presidential directive.

“First of all, I am really happy with this statement. This was a long overdue process that was not given attention. While we all appreciate having our own spaces for development, it must not be at the expense of making land a factor of production, and that is what the president is asking for,” he said.

He observed that Nairobi had been pushing for the titling of lands without understanding the situation on the ground.

“We must coordinate our planning processes starting from the communities, counties, and national government. A moment to take stock and reflect is a very good thing,” Kamanga said.

On her part, Susie Weeks, the Executive Director of Mount Kenya Trust, said that existing, well-maintained, fenced corridors and migratory corridors must be kept open for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

“Corridors that are severed due to poor planning and misguided development projects hurt people as it is inevitable that human-wildlife conflict will increase. In a world where our protected areas are becoming increasingly impacted by human development and infrastructure that stops historical migration paths, we will only increase the impact of wildlife for farmers and livestock,” she said.

The rich Kenyan tourism heritage

According to Susie, as more and more parks and reserves are fenced, effectively creating islands of fragmented wildlife habitats and biodiversity loss, there is a need to mitigate the problem by acting to keep corridors safe, develop more viable, secure corridors for the safety of humans, their livelihoods and the protection of flagship species that are part of Kenya’s heritage and a major source of tourism income to the government and private operators.

“The Mount Kenya Elephant Corridor is a great example of how corridors can have a positive impact on people living on the edge of protected areas with an abundance of wildlife,” she explained.

Big Life Foundation CEO Benson Leyian lauded the move saying everyone must live within the limits of our natural ecosystems.

“The President has been categorical on carbon potential, payments for ecosystem services, and tourism as an income earner in the country, and he’s now taking care of the goose that lays the golden eggs,” Leyian said.

Leyian reiterated that conservation and human development go hand in hand, but it is sustainable only if that development is carefully planned.

“So, if we destroy nature now, future generations will suffer. It is possible for all land uses to co-exist within one ecosystem, by zoning space for each in the appropriate areas,” he added.

A visit to the rich Tsavo Ecosystem

Meanwhile, Waruingi observed that the presidential directive does not imply that landowners must never sell their land or that they must never develop it.

“But can we first have a framework that integrates all these land uses, and develops an optimal conservation vision based on a conservation policy that looks at integration between people, land, their livestock, and wildlife? And [a situation] where the approved land use does not destroy the environment, does not destroy the wildlife, and does not disenfranchise the local people,” she explained.

Waruingi insisted that the president had taken a bold step in conservation that deeply applaud.

“I think it's going to be a great pioneering move for Kenya,” she said.

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that the mystical wilderness of the Tsavo Ecosystem, home to Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, presents two of Africa's great luxury safari destinations.

Split into a patchwork of conservancies, this beautiful ecosystem offers a stunning blend of endangered species and exclusive experiences.

But tucked in between this flora and fauna are several ranches, which are fast being transformed into resourceful conservancies.