Kenya ventures into geospatial technologies for biodiversity conservation
The collaboration, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, focuses on leveraging space technology for real-time monitoring, community engagement, and sustainable land management.
The Mountain Bongo, native to Kenya and classified as "Critically Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, faces the threat of extinction, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild. In response, the five-year partnership aims to restore the Mountain Bongo population and its habitat while encouraging community involvement in ecosystem conservation.
The collaboration involves mutual investments by KSA and MKWC in developing skills, expertise, competence, experience, and ecological monitoring techniques to aid in ecosystem protection. The initiative aligns with the 1.5°C target for limiting global warming, as outlined in COP28, seeking to reduce harmful emissions by 1/3 through ecosystem restoration.
Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey, Acting Director General of Kenya Space Agency, emphasised the commitment to using space technologies for wildlife conservation, considering it a national heritage and a crucial tourist attraction. The collaboration includes KSA's Space Clubs and MKWC's Education program to inspire and educate young people about space technology and conservation.
Dr Robert Aruho, Head of Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, expressed excitement about utilising space technology for real-time monitoring and data-driven conservation strategies. The collaboration, in line with global practices, is expected to make a profound impact on preserving the Mountain Bongo and enhancing Kenya's biodiversity.
The partnership's education component involves assessing land use changes, deforestation, and soil degradation as well as providing crucial data for shaping sustainable land management strategies. KSA's Taifa-1 Sat, Kenya's first operational 3U Earth Observation satellite, launched in April, plays a pivotal role in providing precise and timely earth observation data for wildlife conservation, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.
MKWC collaborates closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Services in managing the 776-acre Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary. The Conservancy, located in Nanyuki at the foot of Mount Kenya, is home to 28 different animal species, with a population of roughly 1,200 animals. The ongoing efforts include breeding and rewilding of the critically endangered mountain bongo, expert care for orphaned, injured, and abandoned animals at the Animal Orphanage, and community education programs instilling a passion for conservation among youth.