By E, KNA
The government is keen to expand funding for scientific research to inform better policy decisions and interventions in wildlife management and conservation efforts.
The extra funding will address emerging threats especially unpredictable global climate change and unplanned conservation challenges such as infrastructure development, change in land use and increased human and livestock populations.
The state has committed to boost it’s funding to research activities from the current 0.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to two percent.
According to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the state will boost funding to the research fund kitty which currently stands at less than one percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Speaking during the ongoing Second International Wildlife Conference in Naivasha, Koskei said the extra funding will boost conservation efforts and protect unique and rare biodiversity.
“Amidst limited resources, the government seeks to enhance its budgetary allocation to the research fund kitty which currently stands at less than one percent”, said Koskei.
According to official data from the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Wildlife contribute over 10 percent of Kenya’s GDP with the industry accounting for 21 percent of total foreign exchange earnings.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano disclosed the government was firmly on course in the implementation of conservation efforts by tapping modern technology and data to drive sustainable tourism.
Miano said her ministry is pushing for a bill that will establish a regulator for the industry and will be submitted to cabinet for consideration and approval.
Kenya Wildlife sector comprises of 25,000 wild animal species, 1,100 bird species, 2,000 species of fungi and bacteria and over 7,000 species of vascular plants.
According to Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) Director, Dr.Patrick Omondi, the state must commit to deliberate action to allocate resources to science noting that conservation is financially intensive.
He said President William Ruto is set to officially release the outcomes of the just concluded national wildlife census that was undertaken countrywide to collect much needed data to drive conservation efforts.
He welcomed move to increase GDP allocation towards wildlife research to combat growing concerns to wildlife including poaching, conflicts, loss of species, habitat loss and degradation and wildlife population decline.
Omondi noted that the institute scientists in collaboration with other partners undertook research to save the two remaining endangered Northern White Rhino through advanced assisted reproduction technologies such as in vitro fertilization.
“We have tapped scientific research to save the only two remaining and endangered Northern white rhinos through advanced reproduction technologies to save it from being extinct”, said Dr Omondi.
The Director added that the institute has established centres of excellence where researchers are escalating data driven interventions across the country wildlife ecosystems including Savannah, Marine and Highlands among others.
In this regard, Dr Omondi welcomed government move to adopt a raft of regulations to guide the exploitation of carbon credit that will herald a new frontier for economic benefits to host communities.
He noted that with communities being engaged on the carbon credit regulations, the move will ensure that they are not short changed in getting their fair share of the billion-dollar market.