Nema bans activities around Amboseli to save declining wildlife

 By Macharia Kamau

Hoteliers and developers will have to forego new developments within the Amboseli National Park as well as the ecosystem surrounding the Park in the next one year.

This follows the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) ban on developments including tourism facilities. The ban was effected last month.

It will last for a year, until conservation plan for the fragile ecosystem is implemented.  The suspension also covers upgrades of existing facilities, sinking of bore holes and human settlements along the stretch from Mt Kilimanjaro on the Kenya-Tanzania border to Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West National park.

Authority’s warning

The ecosystem estimated to cover 5,700 km2 houses the Amboseli National park that is home to an estimated 1 300 elephants.  “The implication of the moratorium is that Nema and relevant lead agencies shall not issue requisite licenses for any new or proposed developments or projects,” said Prof Geoffrey Wahungu when the environmental body issue the moratorium.

“The moratorium will be in place for one year or until the Amboseli ecosystem management plan that has been developed in consultation with stakeholders is gazetted.”

He added that increased human activity within the ecosystem had resulted in a decline in wildlife and eroding conservation efforts by different conservation bodies.

In addition to human activities, the ecosystem was dealt a blow by a prolonged dry spell in 2009 that left animals – both livestock and wild animals – with limited vegetation to graze on and escalated human wildlife conflict.

“The Amboseli ecology is a fragile ecosystem that is internationally recognised as a Unesco biosphere reserve because of its significance as an area that fulfils conservation, research and development functions,” said Wahungu.

“It has been under siege from rising population, haphazard developments which have come up such as unplanned tourism facilities, drilling of bore holes and construction of airstrips.

This has resulted in diminishing wildlife and wildlife migratory routes and dispersal areas being chocked.”

He said the ecosystem remains rich in wildlife resource and hence the need for protection. According to Nema, the moratorium was arrived at after a consultative forum attended by stakeholders from lead agencies as well as area conservation groups and members of the local community.

Negative effect

Mr Paul Muya, a Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman noted that while developments within the Amboseli National Park were controlled, subdivision of private land surrounding the park and subsequent developments had impacted heavily on the ecosystem.

These communities have been dividing the land into small portions and selling them to property developers, who have in turn, closed the key animal migratory and dispersal areas.

“The park is small and accounts for just a proportion of the ecosystem. Activities outside the park are a key factor and that is what needs to be checked,” he said.

“The community has subdivided land outside the park and the developments are more risky. The developments to date have been done without consideration to conservation. With the moratorium. We want everybody to think about developments on the land that will not negate conservation efforts and even the gains that have been made so far.”

He added that the Amboseli ecosystem management plan would significantly efforts aimed at boosting sustainable of the ecosystem. He said the management plan will guide what will happen in as far new developments are concerned.

The plan was developed in partnership with the stakeholders and hence informed by perspectives from our side as well as from both the industry and community.

The plan is meant to ensure that developments in the area do not interfere with the wildlife corridors and instead ensure a sustainable usage of ecosystem.