Kenya ranks among the world’s top wildlife destinations.

A million and a half  visitor a year boost our economy  by 12 %.This were the remarks  by the chairman  board of management  for African  conservation  centre Mr. David Western at the official opening of the 3 day conference on  Biodiversity, land use and climate change this morning.

Mr. Western said that due to the destruction of our natural capital, billions of shillings are lost to Kenyans economy each year. “This is being recognized and vision 2030 takes a step in the right direction in by stressing the value of renewable energy such as biomass, solar, and wind in Kenya “he added. On the issue of wildlife he mentioned that they must overhaul the outdated wildlife policy and prepare a comprehensive national frame work for all bio diversity.

It is important to restore and buffer the parks and to expand tourism to new destinations that reflect the wealth  of Kenya’s  natural endowment.

Mr. David further said that in order to protect Kenya’s biological wealth we must also weigh the threats ahead, land use and livelihoods are changing at an ever changing faster pace. The biggest threat comes from poor land use practice, degradation and habitat fragmentation driven by population growth, settlement and poverty also climatic change could also add to the environmental and social cost unless we anticipate  the risks it poses and put in place precautionary measures.

The director of Kenya wildlife Mr.Julius Kipn’getich talked about some of the challenges facing Kenya in achievement of biodiversity .One of them being population growth, climate change the fourth coming drought and the one that past, land use practices,food,water and energy also security-boarder trafficking of firearms and isolated population of  wildlife. He said that the new constitution is meant to improve governance and acts that the parliament are yet to pass, the tourism bill ,wildlife bill and policy, land policy, and the climate policy.

There are few things that the KWS is doing to support conservation. Among them are modernizing the force through; training them to be the best paramilitary force in the world reverting technology by buying more cars and airplanes and the tagging of wildlife via GPRS,strengthening science this is by having two labs the forensic lab and genetic lab for DNA,MIS for science on ecological observation, wardens to record what they observe, tourism value by improving customer care and the movement of wildlife, community outreach by improving governance ,price controls and resource mobilization and talks are under way with government. All this will be achieved in one year he added.

Among the people present were the assistant minister for wildlife Mr.Josphat Nanok,the assistant minister  of environment and mineral resources Mr. Ali Mohammed and the director Kenya tourism board Mr.Mirithi Ndegwa.

Several organizations have taken a tentative step in achieving a biodiversity policy; the Kenya wildlife service, National museums of Kenya, Kenya forest service, the national council ,non-government organizations, landowners associations and international agencies.

By FRIDAH TOO