Kenya commemorates International Day for Biosphere Reserves, and Man and Biosphere 50th Anniversary
Seventy seven Man and Biosphere (MAB) reserve managers; conservation stakeholders; youth representatives; academic and research members; civil societies; partners and members of the public commemorated UNESCO’s Inaugural International Day for Biosphere Reserves and Man and Biosphere 50th Anniversary.
Guided by the theme: “It’s About Life”, the event proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference, highlighted strides made since the designation of the first national Biosphere Reserve; the significance and contribution of BRs and resilient ecosystems to mankind and sustainable development; impactful of UNESCO-MAB Young Scientist Awards to researchers; and opportunities. It also laid emphasis on participatory multi-stakeholder approaches through public-private engagement, upscaling indigenous / local community advocacy and youth empowerment in natural resource management; promotion and use of citizen science for decision making and policy formulation. The Man and Biosphere Anniversary signified the climax of a series of events that started in 2021 to celebrate 50 years of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme, a programme initiated in 1971.
Biosphere Reserves and nature at large in provides humankind essential ecosystem services, ranging from climate change mitigation, hydrological cycles, carbon sequestration, watershed functions, habitat conservation, soil protection, recreation, food, among others. Through the MAB Programme, Kenya has promoted harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development by leveraging on participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being improvements; respect for cultural values and society’s ability to cope with change, in line with the Kenya’s Vision 2030, African Union Agenda 2063 and the Global Agenda 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals).
UNESCO is commitment to promote sound science-policy interphase and professional development, such as the UNESCO-MAB Young Scientists Awards, UNESCO Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation and Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management.
Kenya plays an active role as a member of African Biosphere Reserves Network (AfriMAB) including sitting in the Executive as Vice-Chair representing East Africa.
Mr. Boniface Wanyama the Chair of the National MAB Committee during his keynote address emphasized the need for increased and enhanced active stakeholder participation; community and youth voices and interventions in the management of BRs and natural resources in general; need for reconciling conservation of biological and cultural diversity and economic and social development through partnerships between people and nature.
A round table discussion moderated by Ms. Cecilia Wandiga, themed “Kenyan MAB Programme and its Contribution (Local to Global): Successes, Challenges, Lessons, Opportunities and Experiences” showcased and explored Successes, Challenges, Lessons, Opportunities and Experiences. The discussants included Mr. Boniface Wanyama (Chair, KMAB), Dr. Paul Matiku (NatureKenya), Rebecca Yego (MAB Youth Forum), Dr. Samuel Partey, (UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa), Dr Dominic Maringa (Mount Kenya-Lewa Biosphere Reserve) and Solomon Kyalo (Kenya Wildlife Service).
Dr. Samuel Partey, Programme Specialist - Natural Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa highlighted innovative and multidisciplinary initiative-taking actions that could advance the Biosphere Reserves model for environmental sustainability and prosperity in Kenya in the next fifty year.
The event also saw three past Kenyan UNESCO-MAB Young Scientists Awardees also shared their experiences on how the UNESCO-MAB Young Scientist Award contributed to their career trajectories in Conservation and Research. The three were Dr. Philista Malaki (a Marine Research Scientist at National Museums of Kenya); Dr. Kevin Khisa (a Wetland Ecologist and Senior Research Scientist at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute; and Joachim Tamaro (Executive Director at International Centre for Research in Sustainable Development).
A session on “Stakeholder engagement in BR Management” gave platform to Mohamed Shali Mohamed (from Kiunga Marine Biosphere Reserve); Ms. Nancy Chege (GEF Small Grants Programme of UNDP); and Ms. Clara Heinrichs and Ms. Vera Nickel (German Kulturweit Volunteers) who presented their youth, civil society engagements and perspectives while working at Biosphere Reserves. A number of recommendations were made which will require to be followed through to ensure that the MAB Programme continues to achieve its three goals of conservation, development, research and monitoring in the Country’s six Biosphere Reserves.