Kenya National Biodiversity Threat Assessment Direct Human Threats Impacting Kenya’s Biodiversity 1st September 2020 The report was prepared by Masumi S. Gudka for IUCN – BIODEV2030 Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ c Abbreviations and Acronyms ........................................................................................................ e Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology, Results & Analyses ................................................................................................. 1 Conclusion & Recommendations................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 BIODEV2030: Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Key Economic Sectors ................................... 5 1.2 BIODEV2030: Supporting Kenya Vision 2030 ......................................................................... 6 1.3 Purpose of the Assessment ..................................................................................................... 8 2. Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Conceptual Framework and Definitions ................................................................................... 9 2.1.1 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Data Collection ...................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Biodiversity Status and Trends........................................................................................ 11 2.2.2 Biodiversity Threat Assessment – National Level ............................................................ 11 2.2.3 Biodiversity Threat Assessment – County Level ............................................................. 15 3. Biodiversity Status & Trends ................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Scope of the Assessment ...................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Ecosystem Approach and Ecological Zones .......................................................................... 19 3.2.1 Ecoregions ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Realms, Biomes, and Ecosystems .................................................................................. 19 A. Terrestrial Realm ................................................................................................................. 20 B. Freshwater Realm ............................................................................................................... 21 C. Marine Realm ...................................................................................................................... 21 3.3 Biological Target: Ecosystem ................................................................................................ 22 3.3.1 Coral Reef Status and Trends ......................................................................................... 22 3.4 Species Approach - Flora and Fauna .................................................................................... 23 3.4.1 Biological Targets: Taxonomic Groups ............................................................................ 25 A. Mammals - Status & Trends ................................................................................................ 25 B. Birds (Avifauna) – Status & Trends ...................................................................................... 30 C. Amphibians – Status & Trends ............................................................................................ 35 D. Fish – Status & Trends ........................................................................................................ 39 E. Plants – Status & Trends ..................................................................................................... 42 3.5 Areas of Conservation Importance ........................................................................................ 43 a 3.5.1 Key Biodiversity Areas .................................................................................................... 43 3.5.2 Protected Areas .............................................................................................................. 44 4. Threat Assessment Results ..................................................................................................... 48 4.1 National Level ....................................................................................................................... 48 4.1.1 STAR Metric - Kenya Scores .......................................................................................... 48 4.1.2 Expert-based Threat Assessment Tool (EbTAT) ............................................................. 50 A. Residential and Commercial Development .......................................................................... 50 B. Agriculture and Aquaculture ................................................................................................ 51 C. Energy Production & Mining ................................................................................................ 52 D. Transportation & Service Corridors ..................................................................................... 53 E. Biological Resource Use ..................................................................................................... 54 F. Human Intrusions & Disturbance ......................................................................................... 57 G. Natural System Modification ................................................................................................ 58 H. Invasive & Other Problematic Species, Genes & Diseases ................................................. 58 I. Pollution ................................................................................................................................ 59 J. Climate Change & Severe Weather ..................................................................................... 61 4.1.3 Simplified Threat Assessment Tool (STAT)..................................................................... 62 4.2 County Level ......................................................................................................................... 64 4.2.1 Case Study 1: Nyandarua County ................................................................................... 64 4.2.2 Case Study 2: Taita Taveta County ................................................................................ 66 5. Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 68 5.6 Study Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 77 7. Recomendations ....................................................................................................................... 79 8. Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 80 9. Appendices .................................................................................................................................. i b Acknowledgements Masumi Gudka and the IUCN BIODEV2030 Project Team Kaori Yasuda, Florence Curet, and Philippe Puydarrieux would like to sincerely thank the following people and institutions for their support with this biodiversity threat assessment: Lucy Ng’ang’a and Kennedy Olwasi from the Ministry of Environment & Forestry, key members of the 6th National Report on Biodiversity, Karin Boomsma, and Stella Ndirangu from Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) – Sustainable Inclusive Business (SIB), Estelle Halimi, Kim Ramoneda, and Claire Fisnot from the French Embassy, Nyokabi Gitahi, and Mariette Sanson from the French Development Agency (AFD), and IUCN Kenya Members who attended the Members Meeting on the 9th of March 2020. A special thank you to all the assessment contributors and assessors who willingly made time to support this study and freely shared their knowledge and opinions by undertaking the biodiversity threat assessment. Your commitment and support have been most deeply appreciated. Biodiversity Threat Assessment Contributors and Assessors Dr Abdullahi Hussein Ali Hirola Conservation Programme Dr Beryl Bwong National Museums of Kenya Cyrus Mageria Ministry of Environment and Forestry Dr Darcy Ogada The Peregrine Fund Don Turner Nature Kenya Bird Committee Ebenezer Amadi Kenya Private Sector Alliance Elizabeth Mueni Kenya Fisheries Service Eunice Robai African Network for Animal Welfare Fleur Ngweno Nature Kenya Dr Gladys Okemwa Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute