This report provides a vivid depiction of the state of Kenya’s conservation connectivity both within and outside protected areas, complete with maps and information on historical and recent wildlife migratory routes and corridors on the Kenya rangelands and coastal terrestrial ecosystems. The report is organized under seven major themes: an introductory overview, a brief treatment on the importance of biodiversity conservation for human well-being, and on the Kenya Vision 2030 flagship project on the environment; objectives and study areas; understanding animal movements and connectivity; the methodological approach to conservation connectivity, and the conservation connectivity framework (CCF); migratory routes and corridors for conservation (drivers, pressures, states, impacts, responses, constraints, opportunities, and strategies for securing habitats already interfered with by human activities); infrastructure development, and climate change impacts; and recommendations and a roadmap. Despite the crucial role of migratory routes and corridors in ensuring connectivity of core habitats with critical dispersal areas, these conservation linkages CORRIDORS AND DISPERSAL AREAS • WILDLIFE MIGRATORY continue to be degraded or lost to human activities, imperilling the integrity of ecosystems and increasing human-wildlife conflicts, hampering efforts to promote eco-tourism,, and impoverishing local communitys’ livelihoods, both of which reduce the speed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This worrying situation can be attributed largely to multi-faceted anthropogenic pressures. The report also provides a set of options for securing conservation connectivity outside protected areas, based on harmonious co-existence between humans and wild animals, and on enabling people to benefit from the preservation of vital ecosystem goods and services. WILDLIFE MIGRATORY CORRIDORS It is envisaged that this report will serve as an importance reference tool for policy makers, legislators, wildlife managers, land-use planners, conservation stakeholders, development partners, pastoralist communities, and landowners residing in wildlife areas. AND DISPERSAL AREAS Kenya Rangelands and Coastal Terrestrial Ecosystems Rangelands and Coastal Terrestrial Kenya Kenya Rangelands and Coastal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Terrestrial Ecosystems P. O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2730808/9; +254 20 2725707; +254 20 2725707 Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.environment.go.ke WILDLIFE MIGRATORY CORRIDORS AND DISPERSAL AREAS: Kenya Rangelands and Coastal Terrestrial Ecosystems Kenya Vision 2030 Flagship Project “Securing Wildlife Migratory Routes and Corridors” WILDLIFE MIGRATORY CORRIDORS AND DISPERSAL AREAS This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR), Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS), and Kenya Wildlife Servise (KWS) would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this report as a source. This report will be updated continuously as new migratory routes and movement corridors are identified. No use of this publication may be made for re-sale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the MENR, DRSRS and KWS. ISBN: 978-9966-107-19-0 Copyright © 2017 Government of the Republic of Kenya All rights reserved For bibliographic and reference purposes, this publication should be referred to as: Gordon O. Ojwang’, Patrick W. Wargute, Mohammed Y. Said, Jeffrey S. Worden, Zeke Davidson, Philip Muruthi, Erustus Kanga, Festus Ihwagi and Benson Okita-Ouma (2017). Wildlife Migratory Corridors and Dispersal Areas: Kenya Rangelands and Coastal Terrestrial Ecosystems DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Government of Kenya or the institutions collaborating in this project. The map presentations do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of collaborating institutions above concerning the legal status of any territory, county, or area of its authorities, or the delineation of its boundaries. Trademark names, logos, symbols and acronyms are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringement on copyright laws. All Correspondence: The Principal Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources P. O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2730808/9; +254 20 2725707; +254 20 2725707 Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.environment.go.ke The Director Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) P. O. Box 47146-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 6009013/27/79; Fax: +254 20 6009705 Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.drsrs.go.ke The Director General Kenya Wildlife Service P. O. Box 40241-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 6000800; Fax: +254 20 6003792 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.kws.go.ke Table of contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI MESSAGE FROM THE FIRST LADY VII FOREWORD VIII PREFACE IX ACRONYM AND ABREVIATIONS X PRODUCTION AND EDITORIAL TEAMS XI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY XVI INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND XVIII CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1 1.1. Global and Continental Biodiversity 1 1.2. Kenya’s Biodiversity 2 1.3.Relevance and Importance of Biodiversity 3 1.4. Trends in the Population of Wildlife in Kenya 4 1.5. Vision 2030 on Securing Wildlife Migratory Routes and Corridors 6 1.6. Study Approach and Report Organization 6 CHAPTER 2: OBJECTIVES AND STUDY AREA 8 2.1. Objectives 9 2.2. Study Areas 9 Southern Kenya Rangeland Ecosystems 9 2.2.1 (A). Nairobi National Park and Athi-Kaputiei Ecosystem 9 2.2.1(B). Masai Mara Ecosystem 10 2.2.1(C). Tsavo Ecosystem 11 2.2.1(D). Amboseli Ecosystem - West Kilimanjaro Area 11 2.2.1(E). South Rift Ecosystem 12 2.2.1(F). Eburu Forest Ecosystem and Lakes Naivasha-Elementaita-Nakuru Conservation Areas 12 Northern Kenya Rangeland and Coastal Terrestrial Ecosystems 12 2.2.1(G). Greater Ewaso Ecosystem 13 2.2.1(H). Turkana-Mt. Elgon Ecosystem 14 2.2.1(I). North-Eastern Rangeland and Coastal Terrestrial Ecosystems 15 CHAPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING MOVEMENTS AND CONNECTIVITY 17 3.1.Animal Movements - Dispersal and Migrations 17 3.2. Biological Significance of Animal Movements and Theory 17 3.3.Definition and Importance of Corridors 18 3.4. Wildlife and People: Conflicts and Conservation 19 3.5. Key Wildlife Species 19 3.5.1. African Elephant (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach) 20 3.5.2. Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi) 21 3.5.3. Burchell’s Zebra (Equus burchelli, Gray) 22 3.5.4. Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi) 23 3.5.6. African or Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) 25 3.5.7. Beisa Oryx (Oryx beisa beisa) & Fringe-eared Oryx (Oryx beisa callotis) 26 3.5.8. Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) 26 CHAPTER 4 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR CONSERVING CONNECTIVITY 28 4.1. Overview 29 4.2. Conservation Connectivity Framework (CCF) 29 4.2.1. Establishing the Context and Purpose – Need for Connectivity 29 4.2.2. Geographical Scope 30 4.2.3. Defining Goals and Objectives – Components of Connectivity (Species, Habitats and Processes) 31 III WILDLIFE MIGRATORY CORRIDORS AND DISPERSAL AREAS 4.2.4. Ecological Components 31 4.2.5. Data Needs and Requirements 31 4.2.6. Connectivity Mapping and Analysis 32 4.2.7. Conservation Connectivity Implementation Framework 33 4.3. Data Sources - Species Distribution and Movements 33 4.4. Geospatial Analysis and Modelling 34 4.4.1. Regional Species Richness and Densities 34 4.4.2. Species Distribution - Regional and Site (Ecosystem) Level 34 4.4.3. Dispersal Areas and Migratory Routes/Corridors 34 4.4.4. Threats to Conservation Connectivity 34 4.4.5. Current Interventions and Opportunities 34 CHAPTER 5: MIGRATORY CORRIDORS FOR CONSERVATION IN SOUTHERN KENYA RANGELAND ECOSYSTEMS 37 5.1.Migratory Corridors for Conservation in Southern Kenya Rangeland Ecosystems 37 5.1.1. Regional Species Richness 37 5.1.2. Regional Wildlife Densities 38 5.1.3. Regional Livestock Densities 39 5.1.4. Regional Wildlife Populations 39 5.1.5. Regional Distribution of Wildebeest 40 5.1.6. Regional Distribution of Burchell’s Zebra 41 5.1.7. Regional Distribution of Elephant 43 5.1.8. Regional Distribution of Giraffe 44 5.2. Ecosystem Patterns: Species Density Distribution 45 5.2.1. Population and distribution trends for Wildebeest in the Mara Ecosystem 45 5.2.2. Population and distribution trends for Burchell’s Zebra in the Mara Ecosystem 46 5.2.3. Population and distribution trends for Elephant in the Mara Ecosystem 47 5.2.4. Population and distribution trends for Giraffe in the Mara Ecosystem 50 5.2.5. Population and distribution trends for Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra and Giraffe around Lakes Naivasha, Elementaita and Nakuru and in the Eburu Forest Conservation Area 51 5.2.6. Population and distribution trends for Wildebeest in the Athi-Kaputiei Ecosystem 53 5.2.7. Population and distribution trends for Plains Zebra in the Athi-Kaputiei Ecosystem 54 5.2.8. Population and distribution trends for Giraffe in the Athi-Kaputiei Ecosystem 55 5.2.9. Population and distribution trends for Wildebeest in the South Rift and Amboseli Ecosystem 56 5.2.10.Population and distribution trends for Plains Zebra in the South Rift and Amboseli Ecosystem 58 5.2.11. Population and distribution trends for Elephant in the South Rift and Amboseli Ecosystem 59 5.2.12. Population and distribution trends for Giraffe in the South Rift and Amboseli Ecosystem 61 5.2.13. Population and distribution trends for Burchell’s Zebra in the Tsavo Ecosystem 62 5.2.14. Population and distribution trends for Elephant in the Tsavo Ecosystem 63 5.2.15. Population and distribution trends for Giraffe in the Tsavo Ecosystem 65 5.3.Wildlife Dispersal Areas, Migratory Routes/ Corridors 66 5.4. Conservation Connectivity Threats in the Southern Kenya Rangeland Ecosystems 67 5.5.