Food and nutrition security and wildlife conservation: Case studies from Kenya.

Abstract

Despite concerted efforts to improve food and nutrition security in many parts of the world, food and nutrition security still remains a challenge, especially in developing countries. In the face of the increasing human population that depends on agriculture and natural resources, the need to conserve wildlife becomes even more urgent. Without policies geared toward conservation and implementation of biodiversity-friendly agriculture, many rural dwellers in wildlife conservation areas will continue to experience food and nutrition insecurity and poverty. Due to human–wildlife conflicts (HWCs), some of the wildlife will become extinct. In this chapter, attempts to link food and nutrition security to wildlife conservation using case studies from Kenya are made. In Kenya, various policies and programs have been implemented to protect wildlife and reduce HWCs as wildlife conservation is necessary because wildlife tourism contributes immensely to the Kenyan economy. Concerted efforts need to be focused on addressing threats and opportunities that result from wildlife conservation and management in the country for the future prosperity of Kenyans.