Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Central Bureau of Statistics Ministry of Planning and National Development Nature’s Benefits in Kenya An Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS Mohammed Said (ILRI) Norbert Henninger (WRI) Stephen Adam (WRI) Amos Situma (DRSRS) Dan Tunstall (WRI) Jaspat L. Agatsiva (DRSRS) Sammy Towett (KWS) Patti Kristjanson (ILRI) Polly Akwanyi (WFP) Dan Tunstall (WRI) Robin Reid (ILRI) Michael Arunga (ILRI) Jo Tunstall (consultant) Mohammed Said (ILRI) Richard Bagine (KWS) Sandra van Dijk (ILRI) Paul Okwi (ILRI) Isabelle Baltenweck (ILRI) Ville Vuorio (ILRI) Jaspat L. Agatsiva (DRSRS) Hyacinth Billings (WRI) Patrick Wargute (DRSRS) Jamie Worms (WRI) Anthony K.M. Kilele (CBS) Emily Cooper (consultant) Godfrey Ndeng’e (CBS) Linda Cotton (consultant) REVIEWERS Carolina de Rosas (WRI) (sections or whole report) CARTOGRAPHY AND MAP DEVELOPMENT Norbert Henninger (WRI) Phil Angell (WRI) Janet Nackoney (WRI) Karen Holmes (consultant) Lauretta Burke (WRI) Florence Landsberg (WRI) Moses Ikiara (KIPPRA) Michael Colby (USAID) Russ Kruska (ILRI) Fred Kaigua (KATO) Antonio Di Gregorio (FAO) An Notenbaert (ILRI) Eunice Kariuki (ILRI) Habiba Gitay (WRI) Michael Arunga (ILRI) Shem Kifugo (ILRI) Faith Githui (ICPAC) Geoffrey Kimathi (WFP) Anthony K.M. Kilele (CBS) David Jhirad (WRI) Alan Kute (WFP) Geoffrey Kimathi (WFP) Christian Layke (WRI) Evans Kituyi (UoN) Susan Minnemeyer (WRI) EDITING AND WRITING Patti Kristjanson (ILRI) David Mungai (UoN) Greg Mock (consultant) Russ Kruska (ILRI) Pat Naidoo (RF) Karen Holmes (consultant) Alan Kute (WFP) Luis Navarro (IDRC) Emily Cooper (consultant) Florence Landsberg (WRI) Peter Ndunda (GBM) Linda Cotton (consultant) Diana Lee-Smith (ILRI) Wilbur Ottichilo (RCMRD) Hyacinth Billings (WRI) Bancy Mati (ICRISAT) Frank Place (ICRAF) Greg Mock (consultant) Daniel Prager (WRI) PUBLICATION DESIGN AND PRINTING Wycliffe Mutero (KWS) Janet Ranganathan (WRI) Dever Designs Stephen Mutimba (ESDA) Carmen Revenga (TNC) Jarboe Printing Nancy Mutunga (FEWS NET) Carrie Stokes (USAID) Janet Nackoney (WRI) Brent Swallow (ICRAF) FUNDING Godfrey Ndeng’e (CBS) Carmelle Terborgh (ESRI) Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency An Notenbaert (ILRI) Shalini Vajjhala (RFF) Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs James Nyoro (Tegemeo) Craig von Hagen (FAO) United States Agency for International Development Pamela Ochungo (ILRI) International Livestock Research Institute Alex Odero (KWS) Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs James Oduor (ALRMP) Danish International Development Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paul Okwi (ILRI) Dickson Ole Kaelo (ILRI) Ololtisatti Ole Kamuaro (ILRI) Dan Omolo (ILRI) Daniel Prager (WRI) Robin Reid (ILRI) Nature’s Benefits in Kenya An Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being World Resources Institute Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Kenya International Livestock Research Institute World Resources Institute: Washington, DC and Nairobi PHOTO CREDITS Chapter 3 Water Tributary of the Tana River in the foothills of Embu District. Tegla Loroupe, world-renowned athlete, is very happy with a Norbert Henninger Cover sponge full of water after the Lewa Safaricom race. Rural landscape in Olepolos, Rift Valley with acacia tree and Cropland in Ndunduri in the foothills of Embu District. Fred Hoogervorst maize plot. Jenny Olson Dreamstime.com / Josiah J. Garber Chapter 4 Food Tea plantation at the edge of the Mount Kenya Forest Reserve. Young Maasai with goat. A farmer in Nyeri holding a bunch of carrots in her hands. Jenny Olson ILRI / Stevie Mann IFAD / G. Pirozzi Back Cover A farmer in Nyeri holding a bunch of carrots in her hands. Chapter 5 Biodiversity A woman collecting fallen tree branches for fuelwood. IFAD / G. Pirozzi A portrait of two Grevy’s zebras. IFAD / S. Nimeh Dreamstime.com / Marinacano Schoolchildren at elephant sanctuary. New farmland in former wetland close to Amboseli National Park. Fred Hoogervorst Chapter 6 Tourism Jeffrey S. Worden Schoolchildren at elephant sanctuary with Nairobi National Park A boy in western Kenya holding his baby brother. in the background. A portrait of two Grevy’s zebras. IFAD / S. Nimeh Fred Hoogervorst Dreamstime.com / Marinacano Chapter 1 Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services Chapter 7 Wood Tegla Loroupe, world-renowned athlete, is very happy with a New farmland in former wetland close to Amboseli National Park. A woman collecting fallen tree branches for fuelwood. sponge full of water after the Lewa Safaricom race. Jeffrey S. Worden IFAD / S. Nimeh Fred Hoogervorst Woman walking in the foothills of the upper Tana River, Chapter 2 Patterns of Poverty and Human Well-Being Chapter 8 The Upper Tana: Patterns of Ecosystem Kirinyaga District. A boy in western Kenya holding his baby brother. Services and Poverty IFAD / S. Nimeh Woman walking in the foothills of the upper Tana River, Norbert Henninger Kirinyaga District. Norbert Henninger Cite as: World Resources Institute; Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya; Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Kenya; and International Livestock Research Institute. 2007. Nature’s Benefits in Kenya, An Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being. Washington, DC and Nairobi: World Resources Institute. Published by: World Resources Institute, 10 G Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA The full report is available online at www.wri.org ISBN: 978-1-56973-642-5 Library of Congress Control Number: 2007924864 © 2007 World Resources Institute This publication is produced collaboratively by four institutions: the World Resources Institute; the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya; the Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Kenya; and the International Livestock Research Institute. The views expressed in this atlas are those of the authors and contributors. Printed on recycled paper. p t ii u NATURE’S BENEFITS IN KENYA: AN ATLAS OF ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELL-BEING q Planting a Seedling for Better Decision-Making hen we started the Green Belt Movement some 30 years Improving human well-being and safeguarding the environment Planting trees has been a way to break the cycle of diminishing ago, Kenyan women identified the lack of water, fuelwood, from which Kenya derives so many benefits are now top priorities in resources for the women of the Green Belt Movement. I see the ideas Wand nutritious food as their major challenges. They were national plans and strategies such as the Economic Recovery Strategy and and maps in this atlas to be much like a small seedling. If nurtured, also concerned about the growing poverty they were experiencing in the implementation plan for the Millennium Development Goals. The if further developed and grown, and if used by both government and the communities. This was in preparation for the first meeting focus- challenge is in implementing these plans—moving from words to con- civil society, this seedling carries the promise of breaking the cycle of ing on the status of women in the world that was to be held in Mexico crete actions on the ground. But how do we build the knowledge base, unenlightened decision-making—decision-making that takes envi- in 1975. As I sat and listened to the women, it occurred to me that reform institutions, and formulate policies to achieve these multiple ronmental resources for granted; that ignores the deep poverty and what we needed to do was heal the land. Why can’t we plant trees? development targets? How do we convince policymakers that investing hardships of people; that does not fairly disclose the cost and benefits I thought. It was easy and doable. Trees would restore the land and in nature and environmental management will yield strong returns for of different choices; that is not accountable to the people most affected produce fuel, fodder, or fruit. Planting trees could help break the cycle poverty reduction and improve the livelihoods of Kenyans? by economic or environmental changes; that does not consider the of deprivation and malnutrition. These were the beginnings of the To manage our resources more wisely and more fairly, we have to impact on our children and grandchildren. Green Belt Movement. base our decisions on knowledge and analysis rooted in sound science. It is for these reasons that I commend the production of Nature’s Ever since, the Green Belt Movement has advocated for the protec- I believe that to formulate better environmental management policies Benefits in Kenya: An Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being and the tion of Kenya’s environment. It has demonstrated time and again that requires investing in a more comprehensive knowledge base on the contribution it can make to sound decision-making and good gover- there is a link between a healthy environment, good governance, and state of the environment and of human well-being. It requires better nance. As a result of this type of work, we will never be able to claim peace, and shown that they are the necessary precursors for sustainable information on the value and contributions of environmental services that we did not know. Rather, using this knowledge, we can move development. Our environment, our economic