Nature’s Benefits in KenyaAn Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being

Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources

Central Bureau of Statistics Ministry of Planning and National Development

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENTNorbert Henninger (WRI)Dan Tunstall (WRI)Patti Kristjanson (ILRI)Robin Reid (ILRI)Mohammed Said (ILRI)Paul Okwi (ILRI)Jaspat L. Agatsiva (DRSRS)Anthony K.M. Kilele (CBS)Godfrey Ndeng’e (CBS)

CARTOGRAPHY AND MAP DEVELOPMENTJanet Nackoney (WRI)Florence Landsberg (WRI)Russ Kruska (ILRI)An Notenbaert (ILRI)Michael Arunga (ILRI)Geoffrey Kimathi (WFP)Alan Kute (WFP)

EDITING AND WRITINGGreg Mock (consultant)Karen Holmes (consultant)Emily Cooper (consultant)Linda Cotton (consultant)Hyacinth Billings (WRI)

PUBLICATION DESIGN AND PRINTINGDever DesignsJarboe Printing

FUNDINGSwedish International Development Cooperation AgencyNetherlands Ministry of Foreign AffairsUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentInternational Livestock Research InstituteIrish Aid, Department of Foreign AffairsDanish International Development Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORSStephen Adam (WRI)Jaspat L. Agatsiva (DRSRS)Polly Akwanyi (WFP)Michael Arunga (ILRI)Richard Bagine (KWS)Isabelle Baltenweck (ILRI)Hyacinth Billings (WRI)Emily Cooper (consultant)Linda Cotton (consultant)Carolina de Rosas (WRI)Norbert Henninger (WRI)Karen Holmes (consultant)Moses Ikiara (KIPPRA)Fred Kaigua (KATO)Eunice Kariuki (ILRI)Shem Kifugo (ILRI)Anthony K.M. Kilele (CBS)Geoffrey Kimathi (WFP)Evans Kituyi (UoN)Patti Kristjanson (ILRI)Russ Kruska (ILRI)Alan Kute (WFP)Florence Landsberg (WRI)Diana Lee-Smith (ILRI)Bancy Mati (ICRISAT)Greg Mock (consultant)Wycliffe Mutero (KWS)Stephen Mutimba (ESDA)Nancy Mutunga (FEWS NET)Janet Nackoney (WRI)Godfrey Ndeng’e (CBS)An Notenbaert (ILRI)James Nyoro (Tegemeo)Pamela Ochungo (ILRI)Alex Odero (KWS)James Oduor (ALRMP)Paul Okwi (ILRI)Dickson Ole Kaelo (ILRI)Ololtisatti Ole Kamuaro (ILRI)Dan Omolo (ILRI)Daniel Prager (WRI)Robin Reid (ILRI)

Mohammed Said (ILRI)Amos Situma (DRSRS)Sammy Towett (KWS)Dan Tunstall (WRI)Jo Tunstall (consultant)Sandra van Dijk (ILRI)Ville Vuorio (ILRI)Patrick Wargute (DRSRS)Jamie Worms (WRI)

REVIEWERS(sections or whole report)Phil Angell (WRI)Lauretta Burke (WRI)Michael Colby (USAID)Antonio Di Gregorio (FAO)Habiba Gitay (WRI)Faith Githui (ICPAC)David Jhirad (WRI)Christian Layke (WRI)Susan Minnemeyer (WRI)David Mungai (UoN)Pat Naidoo (RF)Luis Navarro (IDRC)Peter Ndunda (GBM)Wilbur Ottichilo (RCMRD)Frank Place (ICRAF)Daniel Prager (WRI)Janet Ranganathan (WRI)Carmen Revenga (TNC)Carrie Stokes (USAID)Brent Swallow (ICRAF)Carmelle Terborgh (ESRI)Shalini Vajjhala (RFF)Craig von Hagen (FAO)

Nature’s Benefits in KenyaAn Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being

World Resources Institute

Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya

Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Kenya

International Livestock Research Institute

World Resources Institute: Washington, DC and Nairobi

Cite as: World Resources Institute; Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya; Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Kenya; and International Livestock Research Institute. 2007. Nature’s Benefits in Kenya, An Atlas of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being. Washington, DC and Nairobi: World Resources Institute.

Published by: World Resources Institute, 10 G Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, USAThe full report is available online at www.wri.org

ISBN: 978-1-56973-642-5Library of Congress Control Number: 2007924864© 2007 World Resources Institute

This publication is produced collaboratively by four institutions: the World Resources Institute; the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya; the Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Kenya; and the International Livestock Research Institute. The views expressed in this atlas are those of the authors and contributors.

Printed on recycled paper.

N A T U R E ’ S B E N E F I T S I N K E N Y A : A N A T L A S O F E C O S Y S T E M S A N D H U M A N W E L L - B E I N G

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PHOTO CREDITSCover Rural landscape in Olepolos, Rift Valley with acacia tree and maize plot. Dreamstime.com / Josiah J. Garber

Young Maasai with goat. ILRI / Stevie Mann

A farmer in Nyeri holding a bunch of carrots in her hands. IFAD / G. Pirozzi

Schoolchildren at elephant sanctuary. Fred Hoogervorst

A boy in western Kenya holding his baby brother. IFAD / S. Nimeh

Chapter 1 Ecosystems and Ecosystem ServicesNew farmland in former wetland close to Amboseli National Park. Jeffrey S. Worden

Chapter 2 Patterns of Poverty and Human Well-BeingA boy in western Kenya holding his baby brother. IFAD / S. Nimeh

Chapter 3 WaterTegla Loroupe, world-renowned athlete, is very happy with a sponge full of water after the Lewa Safaricom race. Fred Hoogervorst

Chapter 4 FoodA farmer in Nyeri holding a bunch of carrots in her hands. IFAD / G. Pirozzi

Chapter 5 BiodiversityA portrait of two Grevy’s zebras. Dreamstime.com / Marinacano

Chapter 6 TourismSchoolchildren at elephant sanctuary with Nairobi National Park in the background. Fred Hoogervorst

Chapter 7 WoodA woman collecting fallen tree branches for fuelwood. IFAD / S. Nimeh

Chapter 8 The Upper Tana: Patterns of Ecosystem Services and PovertyWoman walking in the foothills of the upper Tana River, Kirinyaga District. Norbert Henninger

Tributary of the Tana River in the foothills of Embu District. Norbert Henninger

Cropland in Ndunduri in the foothills of Embu District. Jenny Olson

Tea plantation at the edge of the Mount Kenya Forest Reserve. Jenny Olson

Back Cover A woman collecting fallen tree branches for fuelwood. IFAD / S. Nimeh

New farmland in former wetland close to Amboseli National Park. Jeffrey S. Worden

A portrait of two Grevy’s zebras. Dreamstime.com / Marinacano

Tegla Loroupe, world-renowned athlete, is very happy with a sponge full of water after the Lewa Safaricom race. Fred Hoogervorst

Woman walking in the foothills of the upper Tana River, Kirinyaga District. Norbert Henninger

Planting a Seedling for Better Decision-Making iiiExecutive Summary viBuilding Partnerships for Better Poverty-Environment Analyses xPreface xiA Reader’s Guide xiiIntroduction 1

Chapter 1 Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services 2The Importance of Natural Resources in the Economy of Kenya 3Understanding Ecosystem Services and Processes 4Major Ecosystem Components: A National View of Kenya 5

Chapter 2 Spatial Patterns of Poverty and Human Well-Being 12Population Density, Poverty Rate, and Poverty Density 15Poverty Gap and Resources Needed to Close the Gap 18Measures of Inequality and Housing Quality 21

Chapter 3 Water 24Water Supply and Demand 26

(Rainfall; Rivers and Drainage Networks; Demand Versus Supply of Water) 26Water-Based Ecosystem Services 30

(Drinking Water; Water Supply in Urban Areas; Electricity Generation; Crop Production; Livestock and Wildlife) 30Water as a Hazard: Flooding 37

Chapter 4 Food 42Food and Livelihoods 43

(Sources of Food; Predominant Strategies for Food and Livelihoods; Importance of the Agriculture and Food Sector; Croplands) 43Food Crops: Major Supply Areas 48

(Food Cropping in Central and Western Kenya; National Trends of Selected Food Crops) 48Livestock Products 51

(Dairy in Central and Western Kenya; Livestock in the Rangelands) 51Food from the Wild 55

(Fishing and Fish Farming; Hunting and Gathering) 55

Table of Contents

N A T U R E ’ S B E N E F I T S I N K E N Y A : A N A T L A S O F E C O S Y S T E M S A N D H U M A N W E L L - B E I N G

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Chapter 5 Biodiversity 62Selected Indicators of Biodiversity 64

(Distribution of Mammal Species; Key Sites for Bird Diversity) 65How People Affect Kenya’s Biodiversity 67

(Intensity of Cultivation; Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation; Impact of Rangeland Development on Biodiversity) 67Losing and Gaining Wildlife 71

(Trends in Spatial Distribution of Wildlife; Local Declines in Selected Wildlife Species; Wildlife Areas and Species in Recovery) 73

Chapter 6 Tourism 80Links Between Ecosystem Services and Tourism 81

(Building a Sustainable Tourism Industry) 81Key Ecosystem Assets for the Tourism Sector 82

(Spatial Distribution of Wildlife with High Tourism Value; Coastal Ecosystems that Support Tourism) 83Nature-Based Tourism: Infrastructure, Visitor and Revenue Trends, and Spatial Diversification 86

(Trends in the Tourism Economy and Visitor Distribution; Use of Protected Areas: Visitor Trends and Revenue Generation) 87

Chapter 7 Wood 94Overall Distribution of Woody Biomass 96

(Forests and Tree Cover; Plantations and Woodlots) 97Key Supply Areas for Firewood and Charcoal 100

(Firewood Collection and Charcoal Making; Growth of Biomass and Potential Harvest) 100

Chapter 8 The Upper Tana: Patterns of Ecosystem Services and Poverty 108Landscapes, People, and Poverty 109

(Landforms; Population, Road Network, and Administrative Units; Spatial Patterns of Poverty) 110Water-Related Ecosystem Services 113

(Indicators Examined; Drinking Water Use and Poverty; Irrigation Efforts, Other Water Uses, and Poverty; High Share of Piped Drinking Water and Small-Scale Irrigation Efforts) 113

Food-Related Ecosystem Services 119(Indicators Examined; Food Cropping and Poverty; Milk Production and Poverty; High Food Cropping and High Milk Output) 119

Biodiversity- and Wood-Related Ecosystem Services 125(Indicators Examined; Number of Agricultural Crops and Poverty; Woodlots in Cropland and Poverty; High Number of Agricultural Crops and High Share of Woodlots in Cropland) 125

Lessons Learned and Next Steps 134

Acknowledgments 138List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 140Sources 141

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