National parks and biodiversity
Kenya has a great diversity of natural environments. Among the 35 nature reserves and 26 national parks, we can mention:
: classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it protects Mount Kenya and its forests. A former volcano, it contains an exceptional biodiversity.
Lake Turkana National Parks
(Sibiloi National Park, Central Island National Park, South Island National Park): these parks are home to the ecosystems of the Turkana Salt Lake, a habitat for migratory birds and a breeding ground for many species. It is inscribed on the list of World Heritage in Danger since 2018.(Amboseli National Park): classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, it is home to part of the Massai community. It is one of the most famous parks in the country, both for its megafauna and for its view of Kilimanjaro. It is possible to do ecovolunteering and ecotourism.Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks
: the largest national parks in the country, the two entities are separated by transportation infrastructure. They protect a great diversity of natural environments (wetlands in Tsavo West, including the Mzima springs, and dry environments in Tsavo East).Park: It protects the lake of the same name where many birds can be observed, including pink flamingos.(Maasai Mara National Reserve): adjoining the Serengeti National Park (Tanzania), it is famous for its megafauna (including the "big five"), and for the "Great Migration".: although it is negatively impacted by its proximity to the capital, it is home to a great diversity of species that can be observed. The country's biodiversity is mainly threatened by the fragmentation and destruction of natural environments (construction of infrastructures), the use of pesticides, and poaching. The latter is linked to the existence of a demand - mainly from outside Africa - for ivory, rhino horns, and the trafficking of living species. Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated situations of conflict between humans and wildlife. Repeated droughts are leading animals to leave the parks and move closer to the villages. The crisis in the Kenyan horticultural sector, linked to the health crisis, has led many unemployed people to practice illegal fishing within protected areas.Virtuous approaches to waste management
Lack of waste management is a source of environmental and health hazards. Waste piles up in the wild - but also in the bodies of livestock, according to studies conducted in slaughterhouses - or ends up burned in landfills. In 2017, Kenya tackled plastic source reduction. As a result, the country banned single-use plastic bags (sale, import, use). This measure, coupled with strong penalties for non-compliance (jail time, fines), has proven to be a sufficient deterrent. However, there remains the problem of replacing these bags, in part by reusable plastic bags that are imported and less expensive than other local containers (sisal fiber bags). The lack of waste collection and treatment facilities also remains a problem. However, the ingenuity of the inhabitants is flourishing, as shown by a company created by a Kenyan woman, which aims to collect and use plastic in the manufacture of road surfaces. In another initiative, restaurant owners are reusing biogas from the fermentation of compost and human excrement to produce energy. This is a circular economy approach that provides a solution to the lack of sanitation and its health consequences, and constitutes an alternative energy production.
Preserve the water resource
Intensive monocultures (tea, rice, flowers) require the use of pesticides, which contribute to the pollution of lakes and rivers, environments already impacted by the lack of sanitation facilities. Irrigation of flowers and livestock account for more than 70% of the country's water consumption. To meet these needs, the country has created artificial reservoirs. Climate change is aggravating drought episodes and, with the risk of water shortages, is raising the spectre of food insecurity. In particular, the droughts of 2015, 2017 and 2019 have increased the country's water stress and caused significant losses in livestock.
Facing climate change
Kenya is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change, even though it is one of the lowest emitters of greenhouse gases. Locally, global warming has resulted in a greater frequency and intensity of extreme events (floods, droughts), which primarily affect the country's poorest populations. Exported products are also threatened: we are already witnessing a drop in the yield of tea production, which could, according to some studies, decrease by half by 2050. In 2018, floods caused the death of around 100 people and forced the displacement of nearly 300,000 people in a country that had already suffered a drought several months earlier. The situation, which has led to a drop in yields and inflation, is also said to be the cause of outbreaks of violence in the country. In order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, the country has put in place a strategy to develop energy efficiency and renewable energy (solar, geothermal). Climate adaptation is already being implemented on the ground where the inhabitants have put in place low tech solutions. For example, the Mihuti hydroelectric power plant, made from bicycle and moped parts, or the planting of fruit trees. More high-tech solutions are also deployed, such as motorized pumps for drip irrigation, or the installation of energy-efficient ovens, all of which are financed by the UNDP.
