Scientists and policy makers will on Tuesday put their heads together to find solutions to challenges facing wildlife in the country.
The three-day inaugural Wildlife Scientific Conference will be held at Lake Naivasha Resort.
Participants include wildlife scholars/scientists, and government and non-government wildlife conservationists, among others.
Wildlife Research and Training Institute CEO Dr Patrick Omondi says the aim of the conference is to disseminate research findings as well as exchange ideas to inform sustainable wildlife conservation in the country.
“Wildlife is a key driver of the tourism industry, which is the second foreign exchange earner for the country. However, since independence the wildlife sector has experienced major challenges driven by anthropogenic and environmental factors,” Omondi says.
Tourism CS Peninah Malonza accompanied by Wildlife PS Silvia Museiya will preside over the opening ceremony.
Invited guests will come from government ministries, conservation NGOs, county governments, management authorities, regulatory authorities, research and training institutes, and universities.
Omondi said some of the challenges include climate change, human-wildlife conflicts, diseases, loss of genetic viability, poaching for trophies and bush meat, infrastructural development and human encroachment into wildlife areas.
He said some of the challenges have led to significant wildlife population decline, loss of connectivity, habitat loss and degradation.
The inaugural wildlife scientific conference aims to bring together conservation stakeholders and partners.
It is also expected to showcase scientific outputs, share experiences and expertise amongst scientists globally and recommend solutions to the aforementioned challenges.
In addition, the conference will act as a channel for disseminating information gathered internally and externally through wildlife research.
It is envisaged that the conference will contribute to guiding policy development and decision-making in the wildlife sector.
Wildlife in the country is faced with a myriad of challenges.
The fragmentation of wildlife habitat remains one of the biggest threats to country’s wildlife resources.
Today, human settlements, farms, roads, railway lines, and pipelines are now occupying land that was initially utilised by wildlife.
The government has halted the issuance of permits in key wildlife conservation areas to curb the dramatic decline of iconic species.
