By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: In the heart of Nairobi, within the walls of Pitman House, the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration on December 5th, 2023.
The announcement echoed through the corridors as the two organizations proudly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that marked the commencement of a transformative journey in geospatial technologies for biodiversity conservation.
At the core of this five-year partnership lay a noble mission—to safeguard the critically endangered Mountain Bongo and its vanishing habitat on the majestic Mount Kenya. With a commitment to harness space technology, the collaboration aimed to usher in an era of real-time monitoring, community engagement, and sustainable land management practices.
The Mountain Bongo, native to Kenya and teetering on the brink of extinction, found an ally in this alliance. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had labeled it as “Critically Endangered,” with fewer than 100 individuals roaming the wild.
The primary objective of the collaboration was clear—to revive the dwindling Mountain Bongo population and rejuvenate its threatened habitat on Mount Kenya. In tandem, the partners aspired to kindle community participation in the preservation of the ecosystem, which played a crucial role as a water tower.
The agreement went beyond paperwork, involving mutual investments in skill development, expertise, competence, and ecological monitoring techniques, all aimed at bolstering ecosystem protection.
In addition to its conservation goals, the collaboration sought to bridge the gap between technology and local communities. It promised an exciting chapter in conservation, where space science would be employed to enhance the immediate environment. The agreement identified conservation education as a linchpin and pledged to inspire the youth towards futuristic conservation endeavors. The Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy committed to establishing a dedicated setup, showcasing the practical use of space technology in animal and habitat conservation.
Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey, the Acting Director General of the Kenya Space Agency, emphasized the significance of the MoU “This signifies a commitment between KSA and MKWC to collaborate in using space technologies for managing and conserving our wildlife—a national heritage and a natural resource that entices tourists to our country.”
Education took center stage as well, with KSA’s Space Clubs and MKWC’s Education program joining forces to enlighten young minds about cutting-edge space technology and conservation. The MoU facilitated joint efforts in assessing land use changes, deforestation, and soil degradation, offering critical data to shape sustainable land management strategies.
Dr. Robert Aruho, Head of Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We are proud to be utilizing space technology and earth observation data. This collaboration will propel us to the next level in understanding the Mountain Bongo’s habitats and behaviors, using space technology for real-time monitoring and valuable data to inform our conservation strategies.”
The partnership aligned with global conservation practices, where geospatial technologies had successfully contributed to wildlife preservation. Both KSA and MKWC remained optimistic that the fusion of space technology and conservation efforts would leave an indelible mark on preserving the critically endangered Mountain Bongo and enriching Kenya’s biodiversity.
Amidst the global focus on climate action at COP28, the collaboration stood as a testament to the commitment of KSA and MKWC. Their joint efforts aimed not only to contribute to the 1.5°C target for limiting global warming but also to reduce harmful emissions by 1/3 through ecosystem restoration—an impactful stride toward mitigating the effects of climate change.
