By Albert Mwangeka
Taita- Taveta County, Kenya: In a remarkable display of heightened partnerships, the County Government of Taita Taveta has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to facilitate wildlife conservation within the county’s ecosystems.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at Serena Kilaguni Lodge, H.E. Governor Andrew Mwadime welcomed this new initiative, adding that it would facilitate and coordinate interagency collaboration to harness opportunities for wildlife and enable harmonious coexistence among the people living in the county.
“This initiative is set to promote conservation, which has been a priority for my administration. A well-conserved ecosystem ensures a wide range of animals, plants, and microorganisms coexist, contributing to clean air and the sustainability of the food we eat,” remarked the Governor, who also chairs the Water, Forestry, and Natural Resources Management Committee at the Council of Governors (CoG).
The MoU represents a significant step in creating pathways for collaboration among governments, communities, and wildlife, from Taita Taveta County to the Mara, remarked Azzedine Downes President and CEO of IFAW.
County Executive Committee Member for Water, Sanitation, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, Grantone Mwandawiro, stated that the implementation of this partnership would advance the conservation agenda within county leadership, contributing to local efforts to achieve greater global goals.
Environmental protection, which involves the preservation and restoration of natural resources and ecosystems, is foundational to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is encapsulated in SDG 13, which addresses climate action, and SDG 15, which focuses on life on land.
