Environment and Natural Resources
Today the environmental component is seen as integral to any model of sustainable development. A large proportion of Kenya’s population , depend directly on the natural environment for a major part of their livelihood especially many of those in the rural areas and those suffering from poverty. This natural environment includes the forests, fisheries, water, soils, grazing and other natural resources – as well as the coast, mountains, plains and other parts of this beautiful land that attracts so many tourists. Sustainable and equitable management of the environment as a whole and of these various but limited natural resources are fundamental to development in Kenya. However uncontrolled deforestation, overexploitation of fish stocks and marine resources, poor agricultural practices and land degradation and desertification are interlinked threats to the livelihoods of the poor – but also of the nation as a whole. Addressing these threats requires improved governance - from both government and citizens. As climate change takes hold the consequences on people will become more dramatic and more extreme – disproportionately affecting the poor most. Whether along the coast, in the forests, in the pastoralist areas, in the urban or rural areas, the impact on the lives of poor and ordinary people will need to be managed in order to help people address the causes and respond to the consequences.
Pact Kenya has a long history of addressing environmental and natural resource issues and this is a key area of our expertise and competence. Currently Pact Kenya is addressing environmental issues through the Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Program (KCSSP); the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF- CEF); the Tourism Trust Fund (TTF) and other projects across a number of sites in Kenya. Given the concerns over how development choices, population growth, climate change and, in some cases, conflicts are shaping and impacting the natural and nature-based assets in Kenya and of the region, this will continue to be a key thematic platform for Pact Kenya in the years to come.
The following programs address some of these issues;
Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Program - (KCSSP)
In partnership with Pact, Inc, Pact Kenya is working with Civil Society actors in building their capacity to manage and monitor biodiversity and natural resources, support the adoption of market-led approaches to improve conservation focused businesses and to advance the policy and legislation environment for improved biodiversity and natural resources management. Our partners’ activities aim to;
- Lobby and advocate for a policy and legislative framework protective of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable natural resources management and utilisation with clear benefits to all stakeholders.
- Support development and implementation of integrated land use/ecosystems planning in targeted landscapes of significant biodiversity importance.
- Support conservation-related businesses for improved enterprise performance and conservation impacts.
- Expand business development services to new and existing conservation enterprises.
To read more about this program, click here
The Beach Product Enhancement Project
Through funding from Tourism Trust Fund (TTF) Pact Kenya is supporting The Public Beach Tube Renters Group - a network of 18 tube renters and The Mombasa Boat Operators Association (MBOA) as part of a broader objective of the TTF to legitimize and mainstream the activities of the beach operators along the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach and in seeking to fill a market need identified with the help of the Kenya Coastal Management Initiative, the group now intends to expand their services to include pedal boat riding.
For MBOA, Pact Kenya supports the communities to fill a market need identified with the help of the Kenya Coastal Management Initiative. The group has launched a transport service for ferrying tourists between the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach and the Wasini Island by Road and between the Beach and the Marine Park by boat.
In both of these business ventures, Pact Kenya has providing support in organizational and management capacity building and oversight in grant management on behalf of TTF. The capacity building services include strategic planning, development of business plans, mentoring in financial management and management control systems and customer care.
Sustainable Utilization Of Land And Marine Biodiversity In Shimoni/Vanga Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA)
With support from GEF/UNDP - Small Grants Program (SGP), Pact Kenya is implementing a people centered, marine focused conservation project to provide alternative livelihoods in order to relieve pressure on coastal and marine resources (reef fisheries and mangrove forests). Pact Kenya, in collaboration with a Locally Managed Marine area (LMMA) committee is working in partnership with the departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forest, KWS, KEMFRI and Coast Development Authority (CDA), to provide the communities in and around Shimoni Vanga with knowledge and skills necessary to embrace alternative livelihood options in order to catalyze and effect systemic change that ensures long-term and sustainable utilization of land (soils, forests, woodlots, traditional crops) and marine resources (fishery, sea grass, crustaceans etc).
Key activities for the project include;
- Organising and carrying out a sub sector analysis through a participatory process.
- Facilitating farm planning and layouts in 6 sites for demonstration.
- Facilitating establishment of woodlots on farms with demos in spacing, pitting and planting of high value crops on farms with demonstrations on spacing, seed sowing and monitoring indicators.
- Holding field days (barazas) to share performance and experiences with the wider community.
- Initiate and facilitate marketing linkages for the identified high value crops and wood products.
Mt Kenya – Burguret Conservation Forum
With support from the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF), Pact Kenya is a strategic partner to Mt Kenya – Burguret conservation Forum, a consortium of two local organizations - the Burguret River Water Users Association (BRWUA) and Mt Kenya Biodiversity Conservation Group (MtKBCG) - providing institutional capacity building, program management oversight, technical assistance and mentoring for the implementation of the Burguret river catchment integrated community based natural resources management project. The overall goal of the project is to diversify and improve livelihood options of the Burguret River Catchment and sub-basin communities through enhanced environmental management practices. To deliver this goal, the project has three components;
- Supporting the rehabilitation and restoration of the degraded river line/riparian and catchment vegetation along the Burguret River for enhanced environmental management;
- Supporting and promoting community-run on-farm and nature-based enterprises, which contribute to improved livelihoods and sound environmental management, and;
- Improving water quality and quantity of the Burguret River to reduce water-borne diseases and support livelihood activities.
Imenti – Kathita Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Livelihoods Project (IKEM-SLIP)
Pact Kenya in partnership with the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF), is a strategic Partner to the Meru Forest Environmental Conservation and Protection Association (MEFECAP), a registered Community Forest Association (CFA) with over 23 affiliate CBOs. Pact Kenya provides institutional capacity building, program management oversight, technical assistance and mentoring to MEFECAP. The project overall goal is to strengthen adoption of alternative livelihood options for improved environmental management by and for forest-adjacent communities in North-Eastern Mt. Kenya Ecosystem. To achieve this goal, the project has four interrelated components;
- Increasing and enriching forest cover and farm forestry development
- Capacity building of forest adjacent communities to re-engineer their farming practices for improved productivity and market orientation - the farmers in this are small-scale with small pieces of land.
- Establish and support sustainable non-timber community-managed forest based enterprises to act as basis for income diversification for communities members
- Initiate and support piloting an urban waste recycling and management initiative – as an income generating and environmental quality enhancing activity.
