Spice tree planting with research, capacity building

President William Ruto plants a tree during the Annual Kaptagat Forest tree planting at Our Lady of Glory Kaptagat Girls High School in Elgeyo Marakwet County.  [PCS]

Activities on Mazingira Day last Thursday brought out the need to collectively tackle pressing environmental issues.

In the Moi era, “zuia mmomonyoko wa udongo” would not miss in the president’s speech. A Mazingira Day therefore not only feeds into the initial plan to show kindness on the previously Moi Day, just that the focus is now environment, at a time the world is chocked by pollution, climate change and biodiversity decline.

Tree planting seems the easiest route in addressing the three planetary crises. Trees are carbon sinks. They are key for water catchment, and equally host millions of creatures besides other benefits. What next?

Before the much publicised global climate talks (COP29) start on November11, similar crucial negotiations (COP16 – on biodiversity) will happen in Colombia from October 21. However, the many talks, with minimal action, will not stop disproportionate effects of climate change and biodiversity loss on local communities.

Therefore, besides more days dedicated to environmental wellbeing, capacity needs to be enhanced on why there is need to grow more trees, projected impacts of the problems, and how to be part of the solution.

Besides the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s wisdom, locally, many sector-focused research institutes attempt to find solutions for intertwined problems. Rarely is there any, from KALRO, ILRI, KEMRI, KEFRI, ICRAF, that does not consider climate change in their work.

These same research institutes, through tailor-made strategic plans, can advise on policy change that informs public participation beyond tree-planting.

In Naivasha, a day before the Mazingira Day, a Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) launched a five-year strategic plan to help it feed into global efforts to secure biodiversity wellbeing.

A bold ambition that was as species are increasingly threatened by deforestation, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Such strategies must be followed by deliberate community supported action, as emphasised by Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano.

Out there, during the 2022 Montreal’s COP15, at least 196 nations vowed to protect 30 per cent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 (30x30 pledge). The global trends however show excitement in pledging than acting, as seen in climate change conferences.

Yet, according to a 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, about 1 million plants and animals risk extinction, some within few decades.

The WRTI and such research bodies must continue to generate accurate and timely data for measuring progress toward global biodiversity targets, for better understanding of the state of ecosystems and intervention prioritisation.

This also helps policymakers with the evidence needed for effective conservation strategies, and will work best if such research institutions are well funded.

Kenyan government then needs to use the data to help communities identify drivers of biodiversity loss in regions for targeted interventions, including tackling human-wildlife conflict in residences adjacent to protected parks and reserves.

Research conducted by WRTI and other local organisations has been instrumental in developing such strategies, including creation of wildlife corridors and community-based conservation programmes.

Collaboration between governments, research institutions, communities and conservation organisations will enable realistic conservation.

In areas where biodiversity loss is driven by agriculture, mining, and infrastructure development, tailor-made action plans cognizant of ecological, social, and economic contexts come in handy. This has worked in Laikipia and Masai Mara, and saved elephants and rhinos while providing economic benefits to locas.

Data is key in ensuring populations take nature more seriously.