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Kenya urged to set up trust fund to boost wildlife protection

Xinhua, April 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

There is need for the Kenyan government to consider the establishment of a national fund to strengthen protection of iconic wildlife species, a leading conservationist said on Saturday.

Munira Anyonge-Bashir, the Kenya country director of The Nature Conservancy underscored the critical role of a homegrown fund to boost implementation of innovative wildlife protection schemes.

In a commentary published by the Daily Nation, Bashir called for radical measures to reverse a declining funding towards wildlife conservation programs.

"We need a fund for conservation of wildlife. Such a fund would solicit money through crowd sourcing and should also keep abreast of new conservation needs," Bashir said.

She clarified that traditional sources of funding towards wildlife conservation including governments, donors and foundations are still crucial.

Kenya's abundant wildlife treasures are a source of national pride and massive revenue.

Government statistics indicate that an estimated 80 percent of tourism earnings are derived from wildlife.

Bashir urged the government and other key stakeholders to explore innovative funding mechanisms to strengthen wildlife conservation in the face of glaring threats occasioned by poaching and climate change.

"Kenyans value wildlife as a national heritage. Most people living around national reserves have taken up wildlife protection," said Bashir, adding that several counties have allocated money to enhance wildlife conservation.

She added that innovative funding mechanisms that were previously adopted by conservation lobby groups helped minimize threats to wildlife such as human encroachment into their habitats.

Bashir emphasized that a wildlife trust fund would not only boost protection of iconic species but also generate additional revenue for communities and the country.

A national wildlife trust fund would also be used to train communities and rangers to enable them implement homegrown wildlife protection measures. Endit