Ngari, Solomon Mwangi Nature Kenya

1. Engaging Community Partnerships for Biodiversity Conservation:Challenges & Lessons in Monitoring Biodiversity in Kenya Darwin Initiative Workshop Quality Hotel, London 6th April 2005 Ngari, Solomon Mwangi Nature Kenya

2. About Nature Kenya • Oldest scientific & conservation society in Africa – born in 1909! • Over 1000 members both local & international. • 30 (14) staff, 100 volunteers and working with 12 local groups • BirdLife partner in Kenya – a global partnership of over 100 partners • Connecting Nature and People • Promote the study and conservation of nature and environment in East Africa • We focus on Kenya’s 60 Important Bird (biodiversity) Areas

3. Why monitor? • Provide timely warning on conservation status – for timely action • Assess the effectiveness of conservation intervention and efforts • Build skills through participation • Guide conservation action

4. How are we monitoring? “Basic Monitoring”, Conducted at all 60 IBAs using standard monitoring forms by Government agencies/Volunteers. “Detailed Monitoring” Involves detailed measurement of certain species and habitat parameters by Local Community Groups

5. What are we monitoring in Kenya? • Trends in abundance and distribution of selected Species & their respective habitats. • Sharpe’s Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) • Hinde’s Babbler(Turdoides hindei) • Papyrus Yellow Warbler(Chloropeta gracilirostris) • Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) • Lesser Flamingos ( Phoeniconaias minor) • Greater Flamingos (Phoeniconaias ruber)

6. The “Pressure-State-Response” Model Pressure: Indicators identified to track major threats e.g. increased logging in forests State: Indicators to identify changes in site condition and biodiversity value e.g. Forest structure & threatened species populations Response: Variables identified to track conservation actions, e.g. site legal status/gazettement, local conservation groups formed (SSGs), funding for cons programmes

7. Government agencies field staff (KWS/FD/NEMA): Collect data; return monitoring Forms & Taking action based on results Monitoring sub-committee of the IBA-NLC Institutional focal points Institutionalising monitoring Advocacy using results Networking Other Field/Site staff Conservation NGOs & Projects Collect Data; Return monitoring Forms & Take Action based on Results Nature Kenya Training; fundraising; Evaluation Reporting to NLC & data gatherers Advocacy Materials Conservation planning + action Site Support Groups Collect data; return monitoring Forms & Take action Feedback/support Coordination National Monitoring Coordinator Technical coordination; Quality Control; Design; Data compilation, Storage, analysis Technical reporting Other Volunteers Collect data & Return Monitoring forms Data

8. Partnerships for Biodiversity Monitoring & Conservation

9. Identification Survey & inventorying Planning for action & Partnerships Site recognition, safeguard, intervention, Partnerships, Mobilizing resources & monitoring Preparation Literature review/Staff hire

10. The Challenge • Immensity of the sites • Budgetary Allocation for Conservation Limited • Soaring Human populations and Aspirations • Limited Capacity within managing authorities • Major threats to IBAs are People-Related • -Intensification of Agriculture • -Draining wetlands • -Bushmeat • -Defforestation,….list goes on!

11. Why Partnerships with local People?. • Local people – the best GUARDIANS of Natural Resources • Existence of traditional management systems • A good understanding of the sites • Wealth of Indigenous Knowledge – touches on species • Can identify with the History of the site • Source of livelihoods for majority • Best Solution – People!

12. Discovery Model • Who is there?? (minimum requirements) • Go through the development Process • Ownership = sustainability • Design Model • Stimulate Formation (“driver”) • Researchers, Surveys, Individuals • Dependence = ‘unsustainable’ Site Support Groups Establishment Models

13. Site Support Groups – Key Factors • Felt Need within the community • Desire to be part of a solution • Like minded people • Nucleus and Agents of change • Multiplier effect

14. SSGs Development Process Level 1:Basic - Ornithological SkillsLevel 2:Group structure – formalisingLevel 3:Group stability - LeadershipLevel 4:Special development Needs Monitoring ApicultureEcotourismWool-spinningButterfly farming

15. Unsustainable Practices... Negotiation,…. Sustainable Benefits ….Joint Planning MONITORING

16. Friends of Kinangop Plateau Lake Victoria Sunset Birders Kijabe Environment Volunteers Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Guides Associations Mukurweini Environment Volunteers

17. Making monitoring happen • Training: • National Level – Government staff and SSGs • Focusing on the Why, what, how & Who Questions • Basic monitoring forms • Site Level – mainly on SSGs • Focus is the detailed monitoring • Site protocols – developed jointly

18. Making monitoring happen • Co-ordination: At Local level – Monitoring committee/Team • Reporting to SSGs’ management • ToRs developed jointly • Monitoring Twice a year (dry & wet) • Regular meetings on sites • Copies of Data sheets submitted to NK At Nature Kenya – Monitoring sub-committee • Convened by NK • Institutional focal points • Steering and Feedbacking role • Has played a major role in institutionalising process • Data Quality Control: • Feedback meetings

19. Some Lessons • Make it relevant • Institutionalize – a must (time & effort) • Feedback = interest + ownership • Designand Redesign (methodology) • Birds of the same feathers principle • Don’t Assume its all happening (support and follow-up/mentor)

20. Some Lessons cont’ • Make it SIMPLE and focussed • Take advantage of the community structural organisation – not a new thing • Identify movers and work through them • Avoid quick fixes! – go the hard way = sustainability • Monitor group dynamics

25. Challenges • Growth - Victims of our own success Coping with emerging needs & demands 2. High expectations 3. Rapid Growth – Weaning/Stabilising 4. Volunteerism - not always understood 5. Partners – control v/s advise 6. Ownership of the process 7. Competitors !! 8. Conflict with the wider community 9. Group dynamics

26. Monitoring should be: ·     Well designed ·     Systematic ·     Regular ·    Sustainable Ends

27. Results & Trends • SSGs and government agencies at IBAs will provide critical information to trigger actions that will prevent extinction of Kenyan endemic species such as Sharpe’s Longclaw and Hinde’s Pied Babbler.

28. Sharpe's Longclaw Sharpei macronyx during wet and dry monitoring seasons in the Kinangop Grassland IBA

29. Trend of Flamingo numberson Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya Massive Flamingos die offs in 2001 was attributed to various reasons e.g lack of enough algae in L. Nakuru

30. Pelican numberson Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya

31. Trend of Water Fowl numberson Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya