Worrying trends of Biodiversity loss in Kenya

Kenya is one of Africa’s most biodiverse countries, but that diversity is under serious pressure. The trend line is clear: wildlife numbers, species survival odds and habitat quality have been dropping for decades.

The boundary for biodiversity loss has already been transgressed in parts of Kenya, leaving many ecosystems at heightened risk of collapse.

The scale of wildlife decline

Wildlife: Kenya lost more than 50% of its wildlife biomass since 1970. Wild herd numbers in rangelands fell by 68% between 1977-2016. In the Masai Mara, most species declined by 50-80% since the 1970s, including a 90% drop in resident wildebeest.

Species at risk: 463 plant and animal species in Kenya are threatened with extinction per the 2017 IUCN list - including 30 mammals, 43 birds, 73 fish and 234 plants. Of Kenya’s 7,000 plant species, 356 are threatened or near threatened, with 24 critically endangered.

Survival probability: The IUCN Red List Index shows a downward trend for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads from 1993-2020, meaning declining survival odds.

Key sites: Of 56 Key Biodiversity Areas assessed in 2023, only 3 were in “favorable” condition - down from 5 in 2022. 47 sites were “unfavorable” and 6 “very unfavorable”.

Key drivers of biodiversity decline

1. Habitat loss + land fragmentation

Land conversion for agriculture, settlements, infrastructure and fencing is breaking up wildlife areas. 90% of Kenya’s wildlife habitat is open grassland, but overgrazing and degradation have cut savannah wildlife populations by 68%.

2. Climate change + drought

Prolonged droughts has hit vegetation cover hard. Climate change is worsening biodiversity loss, especially in fragile coastal forests and grasslands.

3. Population + land-use pressure

Rapid population growth, expansion of crop cultivation, high-density settlements and unregulated livestock are increasing competition with wildlife. In Kinangop highlands, grassland-to-cropland conversion is wiping out habitat for Sharpe’s Longclaw, a bird found only in Kenya.

4. Poaching + overexploitation

Poaching, overfishing and uncontrolled harvesting still threaten species. Illegal hunting and displacement by livestock are listed as direct pressures.

5. Policy + management gaps

“Degazetting critical biodiversity hotspots, poor management plans of forests, and lack of enforcement” are worsening the situation. Invasive species like water hyacinth and Nile perch, pollution and mining also contribute to the loss of biodiversity.

Why it is important to preserve the biodiversity

Ecosystem degradation means more vulnerability to climate shocks, drops in fisheries, agriculture and livestock productivity, and declines in iconic species like elephant, rhino, giraffe, pangolin, and dugong. 

Protected areas alone aren’t enough - wildlife declines are happening at the same rates inside and outside PAs.