Why Kenya needs to back conservation with security

Kenya's rich biodiversity, from its savannahs to its coastal mangrove ecosystems, positions it as a global conservation hotspot. Over the years, the country has made notable strides in protecting its environment and restoring degraded ecosystems.

However, a challenge often overlooked in these efforts is the role of national security. For conservation and restoration projects to succeed, especially in regions along Kenya's coast, there needs to be more muscular coordination between the country's environmental and security forces.

I am working on my Yale University postgraduate project in Lamu, which focuses on restoring mangroves. This coastal region holds immense potential - ecologically and economically. Mangroves are crucial for carbon sequestration and serve as natural barriers against coastal erosion. They also provide critical habitats for marine species and support local fisheries.

Despite this potential, Lamu's natural resources remain largely untapped due to persistent security concerns. This situation raises a fundamental question: How can Kenya effectively conserve its environment, if insecurity continues to threaten both people and ecosystems?

In regions like Lamu, conservation and national security are deeply interconnected. This area has experienced security challenges for years, ranging from extremism to piracy and illegal resource exploitation. These threats do more than endanger human lives—they undermine the very foundation of conservation.

Insecure areas become breeding grounds for poaching, illegal logging, and unregulated fishing. When security forces are absent or stretched too thin, illegal activities flourish, causing extensive environmental damage.

For example, the unchecked deforestation of mangroves for charcoal production has devastating effects on the ecosystem and the local communities that depend on it for their livelihoods.

Mangrove restoration projects in Lamu and similar coastal regions face numerous obstacles, not the least of which is the ongoing insecurity. Without a stable environment, conservationists, researchers, and tourists hesitate to engage with these regions.

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Consequently, restoration efforts stagnate, and opportunities for economic development, such as ecotourism, remain unrealised. This reality underscores the need for a coordinated effort between Kenya's environmental and security agencies.

For Kenya to successfully achieve conservation and climate goals, a concerted effort must be made to integrate security measures into environmental protection plans. Protecting national parks, forests, and coastal regions like Lamu requires constant vigilance.

Poachers and smugglers exploit security gaps to pillage natural resources, often causing irreparable damage. By combining environmental protection initiatives with security operations, the government can create safer spaces for biodiversity to thrive.

Furthermore, building trust with local communities is essential. In many cases, the communities living near conservation areas are the first to experience the dual threats of environmental degradation and insecurity.

In Lamu, for instance, residents play a crucial role in managing and preserving mangrove ecosystems. Yet, without safety assurances, they may prioritise immediate survival needs over long-term conservation goals.

The government can build trust by involving security agencies in environmental initiatives, fostering greater local participation in conservation efforts. Communities, empowered with security and resources, can be the primary stewards of their environments.

Security also plays a crucial role in enhancing Kenya's ecotourism industry. Ecotourism is one of the primary drivers of the economy, and Lamu, with its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, has enormous potential to attract tourists.

However, tourism cannot flourish in regions plagued by insecurity.

Ensuring well-protected conservation areas, will boost tourism and create economic opportunities for local communities. The revenue generated from a thriving ecotourism can then be reinvested in conservation efforts, creating a sustainable cycle of growth and preservation.

In addition, security threats in coastal regions are often transnational, involving cross-border smuggling, piracy and extremist groups. Kenya's defense forces must work closely with neighboring countries to secure these vulnerable areas.

This collaboration should extend beyond security measures to include environmental policies, as ecosystems often cross national boundaries. A coordinated approach, can help address shared ecological and security challenges more effectively.

Kenya is currently grappling with the harsh realities of climate change. In this context, protecting and restoring ecosystems such as mangroves is more important than ever. Mangroves sequester large amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change and act as natural buffers, protecting coastlines from storm surges and flooding.

However, without adequate security, the benefits of these ecosystems cannot be fully realised. Illegal activities like deforestation and unregulated fishing degrade the environment and reduce the resilience of these areas to climate impacts.

For Kenya to meet its climate goals, security must be considered an integral part of the solution. Security measures should be woven into the fabric of conservation efforts, ensuring that restoration projects are safe and sustainable. This requires close collaboration between environmental and security agencies at both the national and local levels.

Kenya stands at a critical juncture where its environmental and security challenges intersect. The government must prioritise coordinating its climate, environmental, and security policies to build a sustainable future. The success of conservation efforts, depends on this integration.

The writer is a communications specialist and a postgraduate student at Yale University School of Environment