By H, KNA
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched a 10 year Shimba Hills Ecosystem Management Plan running from the year 2023-2033.
The Shimba Hills, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot, has been hailed by environmentalists as a crucial heritage for Kwale’s ecosystem and the coastal region at large.
The plan sets out a framework for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable management of the Shimba Hills ecosystem for the benefit of current and future generations.
Conservationists hailed the 10-year plan as a transformative step from ‘policy to action’ highlighting Shimba Hill’s role as natural climate stabilizer.
The Shimba Hills ecosystem spans over 25,904 hectares, with four forest blocks that serve as the source of eight rivers that supply water to the forest-adjacent communities and to the coastal county of Kwale at large.
With its double gazettement, Shimba Hills represents a unique ecosystem, which has been designated to ensure its sustainability and effective management.
Double gazettement of Shimba Hills refers to its designation under two separate legal frameworks by two different government bodies, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the KWS, which shares stewardship and management responsibility for the ecosystem.
Shimba Hills was first gazetted as a national forest in 1903 and then later extended to include grassland areas in 1924, resulting in its dual-stewardship status and protection under the Shimba Hills National Reserve designation.
The launch of the ecosystem management plan in Kwale town was graced by KWS Chairman Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Walter Koipaton, KWS Director General (DG) Prof. Erastus Kanga and Kwale Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo.
The launch was also attended by Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde and Former Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere and members of the community.
Koipaton noted that the plan, officially launched at the KWS Kwale County regional office, was gazetted in November 2024 after four years of research and stakeholder engagement.
The KWS Chairman said the ecosystem management plan is anchored on Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
He said it is structured around three core pillars of ecosystem resilience, community and conservation synergy, innovation and partnerships.
Koipaton said the plan seeks to restore degraded forest and protest water catchments, conserve endangered and rare species, including the endemic Shimba Hills sable antelope and strengthen sustainable, community-led livelihoods.
The sable antelope population in Kwale is exclusively found in Shimba Hills National Reserve, which holds Kenya’s last breeding herd of the endangered species.
“It actually sets out a roadmap to safeguard Shimba Hills as both a biodiversity hotspot and a cultural heritage site,” said the KWS chairman.
Prof. Kanga acknowledged the invaluable contributions of local communities, the Shimba Hills Community Forest Association and a galaxy of conservation Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to the development of the plan.
The DG said threats like poaching, illegal logging and climate change still exerts pressure on the Shimba Hills ecosystem.
“But we are determined to work with all the stakeholders to preserve Shimba Hills for present and future generations,” he said, adding that collaboration has been central to the plan’s development and future success.
He disclosed that the 10-year management plan has been in effect, running from 2023 to 2033 and that it introduces zoning to protect fragile areas in dire need of restoration.
“The community’s cultural heritage is intertwined with nature, and they have been engaged in the preservation of nature long before laws were enacted,” he added.
Prof. Kanga said stakeholder input was gathered from traditional leaders, NGOs and conservationists reflecting a ‘whole of society approach to environmental governance’.
The DG said the plan will be instrumental in ensuring the effective conservation and sustainable management of the Shimba hills ecosystem which is critical for livelihoods and sustainable development.
On his part, Kombo called on communities neighboring the Shimba Hills national reserve to embrace conservation and protect this unique landscape for posterity.
The Deputy governor commended the KWS, KFS, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-Kenya), and other partners for their collaborative efforts in making the decade-spanning Shimba Hills Ecosystem Management Plan a reality.
Kombo said the devolved government is consistently working towards creating an enabling environment for conservation and ensuring that development is fully aligned with sustainability.
He described the strategic conservation plan as a ‘step in the right direction’ and an ‘important milestone in Kwale’s journey towards sustainable conservation and inclusive tourism development.
Kombo said Kwale is committed to preserving its natural heritages like the Shimba Hills National Reserve, the sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which consists of several sacred forests like Kaya Kinondo and Kaya Kauma and significant marine areas like the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park while driving inclusive growth and economic opportunity for the people.
WWF is a leading international NGO dedicated to wilderness preservation and reducing human impact on the environment.
It works to conserve biodiversity, ensure sustainable natural resource use, and promote a future where humans live in harmony with nature.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Clement Ngoriareng, representing the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, highlighted that the role and involvement of the local community was emphasized during the development of the plan.
He further expressed gratitude for the synergy between the community and all stakeholders involved in achieving this milestone.
“KFS is fully committed to fulfilling its role in the implementation of the plan,” he emphasized.
Dr. Ngoriareng acknowledged that KFS will work to restore and rehabilitate the degraded portions of the forests, as part of the goal to attain 30% tree cover by 2032.
He said despite the forest experiencing threats such as illegal logging, forest fires, and human-wildlife conflict, KFS and KWS will work towards achieving conservation, restoration, and sustainable management while ensuring that the community enhances and sustains their livelihoods.
The KFS senior official says decades of deforestation, unsustainable farming practices and agricultural expansion threaten the survival of forests and the species that inhabit them, raising concerns among conservationists.
