National Wildlife Strategy 2030.

This National Wildlife Strategy is a 5-year nationwide cross-sectoral document aiming at providing an overarching framework that prioritizes, coordinates, and inspires participation for the transformation of the wildlife sector in Kenya. The Strategy prescribes principles, objectives, standards, indicators, procedures and incentives for the protection, conservation, and management of wildlife resources. It identified four core pillars, made up of seven goals, supported by 21 strategies, and 70 priority activities. The four Pillars include (1) resilient ecosystems in order to protect ecosystems and species through a reduction of human-wildlife conflict and promoting coexistence; (2) engagement by all Kenyans in embracing their role in wildlife conservation through collaborative initiatives including incentive programs that enhance access to benefits; (3) evidence-based decision making, developing evidence based decision support tools and promoting the data sharing, use, and integrated cross sectoral and multi-scale planning; and (4) sustainability and Governance in order to ensure coordination, effective implementation, and sustainability.
To achieve the overall aim, the Strategy identifies seven goals, namely (i) maintain and Improve Habitat and Ecosystem Integrity; (ii) enhance species protection and management; (iii) participation and awareness; (iv) access, incentives and sustainable use; (v) evidence based decision making and adaptive management; (vi) build the capacity of individuals, institutions, communities and networks; and (vii) develop an effective governance structure and sustainable financing.
To make agriculture, fisheries and forestry more productive and sustainable, main actions will be directed to (i) protect, rehabilitate, and restore wildlife habitats, including forests, savannas, freshwater, marine, and mountain ecosystems; (ii) rehabilitate and restore degraded habitats in protected park areas, and create new wildlife protected areas; (iii) create a culture of conservation in youth through projects that engage them in wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship, including, tree planting, invasive plant removal, river/watershed management and recycling projects; (iv) conduct a market study to establish and inform the sustainability of consumptive wildlife utilization including game farming and game ranching; (v) increase the extent and management effectiveness of the conservation and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems; and (vi) promote marine and coastal natural resource management for sustainable utilization.
In order to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the Strategy proposes (i) the development of a sustainable innovative national compensation scheme including insurance and community supported programs for loss of property, livestock and crops; and () the development of local industry for value addition and marketing of wildlife and wildlife products.
The resilience of livelihoods to disasters will be increased through (i) development and implementation of species specific conservation and management plans that address emerging issues and challenges (climate change); (ii) implementation of conservation interventions for priority species (threatened/vulnerable/ endangered); and (iii) strengthening of local institutions and universities to use cutting edge science to understand the impacts of various drivers, including climate change.
As for the Governance, it is necessary to develop effective implementation frameworks and monitoring structures for the effective implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the Strategy. Furthermore, to ensure cross-sectoral engagement and linkages, the Strategy will be implemented in conjunction with a cross-ministerial, Inter-Sectoral Council responsible for ensuring integrated planning, effective coordination across sectors and links with other government initiatives. In particular, this strategy articulates how local communities will be better involved in conservation. The desired outcome is for both the protected area managers and the communities themselves to mutually benefit from wildlife conservation.