BC-Department of Environmental Education

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    Using patterns of distribution and diversity of Kenyan birds to select and prioritize areas for conservation.
    (Springer, 1996-01-14) Muriuki, J. N.; De Klerk, Helen. M.; Williams, P. H.; Bennun, L. A.; Crowe, T. M.; Berge, E. V.
    Patterns and environmental correlates of species distributions and richness are identi®ed for Kenyan birds at a quarter degree-square scale. This information is used together with iterative complementarity analyses, which employ species richness, taxonomic dispersion and range-restrictedness, to identify priority areas for possible conservation attention. Bird species apparently not conserved by existing protected areas in Kenya are identited. Six avifaunal zones (and one transitional zone) are distinguished based on distributions of suites of bird species. Variation in biotope diversity (the number of forest and aquatic systems) accounts for 79% of the observed variation in Kenyan bird species richness. Although both rainfall and altitudinal range are signi®cantly correlated with species richness, they only explain an additional 3% of the observed variation. The priority areas identi®ed are situated mainly within highlands and coastal lowlands. Although few priority areas are identi®ed in northern Kenya, this region also constitutes a priority, as it contains a suite of xeric species with habitats that are not represented elsewhere in Kenya. The papyrus yellow warbler, Chloropeta gracilirostris, William's bush lark, Mirafra williamsi, white-winged dove, Streptopelia reichenowi, and Jubaland weaver, Ploceus dichrocephalus, are identited as endemics or near-endemics that are probably not adequately conserved in Kenya at present.
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    Climate Change, Resource Competition, and Conflict amongst Pastoral Communities in Kenya
    (Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2012) Njiru, B. N.
    This chapter tries to understand climate change, resource competition, and conflict amongst pastoral communities, and argues that violent conflict involving pastoralists is associated with resource competition which is, among other factors such as interstate and intercommunal tensions and political instabilities, aggravated by climate change. Conflicts among the pastoral communities have become very common and increasingly relentless in the northern region of Kenya. Specifically, the chapter documents the evidence of climate change in the pastoral areas in Kenya, determines the effects of climate change on pastoralist livelihoods in Kenya, and discusses the effects of climate change on resource-based conflicts among the pastoral communities of Kenya. Primary data was obtained from a total of 45 primary pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and key informants. Four focus group discussions with ten participants each were conducted in Matuu. The interviews were conducted in order to find out how climate has changed and how this has affected pastoralism. Secondary data was utilized in literature analysis. These resources were obtained from Kenyatta University Library, University of Nairobi, and from the Internet. Primary data was qualitatively analysed. The main findings are that resource competition among the pastoralists is indeed exacerbating resource competition and consequential conflict.