Nairobi:The Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund (WCTF) is exploring innovative financing mechanisms to enhance wildlife conservation efforts and support communities living near game parks. This initiative comes as part of developing a new five-year strategic plan, essential for addressing the growing needs of wildlife conservation, which is a vital component of Kenya’s economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, the WCTF Chairperson, Lucy Waruingi, highlighted the need for sustainable financing sources during a stakeholder engagement forum. She emphasized directing resources to areas of greatest need to achieve tangible conservation outcomes.
Participants at the meeting noted that Kenya currently requires approximately Sh20 billion annually for wildlife conservation but is only able to mobilize about Sh8 billion. This results in a financing deficit of about Sh12 billion, underscoring the necessity for increased resource mobilization.
Robert Wainaina, a WCTF board member, supported the initiative, emphasizing the Fund’s role in mobilizing and disbursing resources effectively. The Fund aims to empower conservancies and communities directly impacted by wildlife, incorporating their concerns and proposed solutions into its strategic plan.
Wainaina also noted that while the Fund will not directly implement projects, it will collaborate with established conservancies and other ground-level actors. The consultations aim to identify drivers of human-wildlife conflict and determine resource allocation to address these issues.
George Mosiori, another board member, clarified that the Fund’s role is to support mitigation measures during crises rather than directly manage disasters. The Fund will provide a framework for addressing human-wildlife conflict, including facilitating timely compensation for victims.
The Fund also plans to support alternative livelihoods to reduce habitat pressure and discourage wildlife reserve encroachment. Mosiori mentioned beekeeping as an example of income-generating activities that align with conservation goals.
Barbara Chesire, AB Entheos Managing Director, stressed the importance of sustainable financing for human-wildlife conflict compensation and prevention. She called for the involvement of women and young people in conservation financing and innovation, proposing virtual-reality tourism experiences as a potential revenue stream.
Chesire also advocated for mechanisms to ensure communities benefit financially from commercial productions using their landscapes, offering opportunities for local youth to participate in the film industry.
