Procedures and tools used in conservation of biological diversity


• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - each activity that may have adverse impact on biological resources must be regulated using an EIA license.
• In-situ Conservation of species – refers to conservation of species in their natural habitat.
• Restricting access to biodiversity resources – whereby the Biodiversity regulations mandates NEMA in consultation with relevant lead agencies to:

a) Impose bans, restrictions or similar measures on the access and use of any threatened species in order to ensure its regeneration and maximum sustainable yield.
b) Issue licenses for the establishment and maintenance of facilities for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species.
c) Determine full recovery and rehabilitation measures of threatened species to ensure its restoration into its natural habitat.
d) Local communities are required to cooperate with NEMA and lead agencies in conservation of threatened species.

Inventory of Biodiversity Resources
• NEMA is required to prepare an inventory of the biodiversity for Kenya including threatened, endangered, and rare species. In addition, some sectors have prepared their sector specific inventories on biodiversity to guide in appropriate conservation actions.

Monitoring of Status of Biological Resources
• NEMA in consultation with the relevant lead agencies is required to monitor the status and the components of biological diversity in Kenya and take necessary measures to prevent and control their depletion. NEMA expects members of the community to cooperate in monitoring the status of Biological Resources. This will enhance conservation of biodiversity.

Identification of Environmentally Significant Areas
• Environmental Significant Areas (ESAs) are areas that have special environmental attributes or benefits and have important ecological, social-economic, historical or other specified functions and features. They preserve specific ecological processes, natural environment systems, natural beauty or types of indigenous wildlife.
• Some of the ESAs in Kenya include the Ramsar sites (Lake Naivasha, Lake Baringo, Lake Elementaita, Lake Bogoria and the Tana Delta) which have been designated as World Heritage Sites. The identification of these ESAs enables NEMA to issue guidelines and prescribe measures for the management and protection of them.

Question

Identify tools used in biodiversity conservation within your locality. Comment on their effectiveness.