The private sector has been urged to engage in the conservation of iconic species and socioeconomic empowerment of communities living around their habitats.
The call was made on Monday as the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature and Sankara Hotel joined hands to boost elephant conservation and the livelihoods of people in adjacent areas. Conservationists said such initiatives are critical.
The key objective of the initiative is to mitigate human-elephant conflict, which leads to deaths, injuries and destruction of property.
"This is another reminder that our strength to effect change and reverse nature loss lies in our partnership and unified action — from communities who are pillars of conservation to policy and decision-makers at national and county governments, young people and the private sector," WWF Board chairperson Isaac Awuondo said.
Sankara group general manager Krishna Unni said wildlife remains one of the key cornerstones of Kenya’s tourism and hospitality "and we should, therefore, strive to protect this valuable resource".
WWF wildlife programme manager Yusuf Adan said compensation becomes a problem because there is wildlife destroying people’s property. Since the law of compensation for damage came into place, the government owns victims Sh4.9 billion.
On December 4, the Tourism and Wildlife ministry gave Sh 569 million on to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict. According to WWF's Living Planet Report 2018, wildlife populations have declined by more than half in less than 50 years. Adan said the wildlife sector would not have enough resources to secure elephants if the private sector is not be involved.
“Poaching of elephants has reduced from 300 to 40 this year. Despite the reduction, we still continue to lose elephants through drought, the rivers that are supposed to be flowing becomes dry because most people use the water for agriculture and pollution,” he said.
(Edited by F'Orieny)
