AWF Deeply Concerned with Kenya's Decision to Downgrade Amboseli National Park to National Reserve Status

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is deeply concerned with the recent decision by the Government of Kenya to downgrade the status of Amboseli National Park to National Reserve status. This decision removes management authority from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and places it under the control of the Olkejiado County Council. This action was directed by the Minister of Wildlife and Tourism through Legal Notice No.120 published in the Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 70 on 29th September, 2005. It will likely have far reaching implications on the integrity of the Amboseli ecosystem. This, in turn may have negative impacts on other Kenyan national parks that KWS manages, and ultimately on conservation and development in Kenya at large.

The African Wildlife Foundation has worked for more than four decades with the people of Africa to ensure that the wildlife and wild lands of Africa endure forever. AWF firmly believes that the future of Africa's wildlife lies with Africans and that local populations who share land with wildlife and often suffer the costs of conservation must benefit not only from environmental services but also from concrete financial revenues derived from conservation.

AWF believes, however, that downgrading the status of Amboseli National Park does not address the real issue facing local communities, which is how benefits from conservation can be realized and distributed among communities sharing land with wildlife. We believe that benefits derived from this national park can be used to address the pressing needs of nearby communities, but not necessarily through changing the status of the park. A downgraded Amboseli will lead to a degraded ecosystem which endangers both wildlife and human livelihoods living here.

In addition, AWF has serious concerns related to the process and good governance regarding this decision. The process used to change Amboseli's status appears to violate the clear stipulations of the Wildlife (Conservation and Management) Act of Kenya. With support from the Dutch Government, AWF and other partners were involved in a process to create a new General Management Plan for Amboseli. Neither AWF nor any of the key agencies or partners of the Government in this process were consulted about a proposed change in status. This hasty and unplanned decision has a negative impact on Kenya's international reputation and reduces Kenya's conservation credibility with its development partners. AWF is rapidly assessing the potential consequences of the Kenyan government's decision on Amboseli National Park and in light of this decision is critically reviewing our investments in the Amboseli area.

AWF commends Kenya for its historical leading role in conservation and in recognizing the important role that protected areas play both economically and as sources of ecological resources such as water. We urge the Kenyan authorities to maintain this leadership by safeguarding these key national resources.

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For more information, please contact:

John Butler

Director of Marketing and Membership

jbutler@awf.org