Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus), Kenya
Image by GRIDArendal
As much as the rest of the world, Kenya is witnessing biodiversity loss. This is despite the country being ranked second in Africa in terms of bird and mammal species richness. The loss in Kenya’s biodiversity is a threat to the country’s tourism industry, which is the mainstay of the economy. Threatened species in Kenya include 33 mammals, 28 birds, 5 reptiles, 4 amphibians, 29 fish, 16 molluscs, 11 invertebrates and 103 plants. Two of Africa’s eight biodiversity hotspots are partially in Kenya, and these are the mountains of the Eastern Afromontane hotspot, and the coastal forests of Eastern Africa. A key method to protect Kenya’s biodiversity is the setting aside of protected areas such as national parks which cover 12.7 percent of the country’s territory. Kenya’s national parks include the world famous Masai Mara.
This photo has been graciously provided to be used in the GRID-Arendal resources library by: Peter Prokosch.
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