Natural Resources Management

USAID/Kenya's Program for Natural Resources Management: 2001 - 2005

Background

Kenya has a landmass of 500,000 km2, of which only 17% is arable while 83% consists of semi-arid and arid land. Kenya's natural resources, in particular its rich flora and fauna are among the country's most valuable assets.  The major economic sectors –agriculture, pharmaceutical, mining, fisheries, and timber industries rely on raw materials extracted from natural resources. Kenya earned some US$ 300 million from wildlife-based tourism in 2001, comprising a net economic gain of US$ 27 million and contributing 5% of Kenya's GDP, a tenth of formal employment opportunities and over a quarter of total foreign exchange earnings. Kenya's closed canopy forests are located in the high productivity areas and are a source for major rivers from which hydro electrical power is harnessed. In the rural areas, more than 3.5 million households rely on forest and forest-based products to meet their livelihood needs. Approximately 70% of the country’s total domestic energy is derived from wood. 

The coastal and marine areas of Kenya contain diverse and productive habitats important for human settlements, development and subsistence. Coastal tourism is the most important economic sector providing the highest employment and foreign exchange income in the region. Ecological resources including mangrove forests, fisheries, sea-grass beds and coral reefs support important economic activities in the region. The major challenges facing the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources in Kenya include: - high population growth (3.5% p.a.), land degradation, loss of wildlife habitat, pollution of marine ecosystem, resource-linked conflicts, destruction of water catchment areas and, encroachment to and excision of forests.

Purpose

The USAID/Kenya natural resources program objective is to support efforts that will lessen, reverse or halt unsustainable use of the natural resource base through an integrated natural resources management approach to conservation. The focus is on influencing change in the community behavior regarding natural resources by promoting favorable incentives to improve natural resources management (NRM).  The identified challenges are addressed through three initiatives, namely: Wildlife, Marine and Forestry/Range Rehabilitation programs. Activities supported include: i) land improvement programs such as agroforestry, watershed management and range improvement activities, ii) development of nature-based businesses including support to community-private sector partnership deals, iii) protected areas management and iii) support for participatory policy reform. The program operates in five geographical areas namely: Laikipia/Samburu, South Coast, Taita-Taveta, Amboseli and North East Mt. Kenya.