Conservation Issues

The economies of the countries in the WWF eastern Africa Region are heavily dependent upon agriculture and exploitation of natural resources. However, the importance of biodiversity and natural resources for meeting direct human needs and maintaining the ecological processes upon which human survival depends have been increasingly recognised over the past decade.

The region is subject to a number of threats:

• Increasing population pressure and associated intensification and diversification of land-use and habitat deterioration, fragmentation and loss.
• Weak or non-existent relevant policies and ineffective implementation of existing policies have lead to unsustainable use of most natural resources of the region.
• Increased poverty levels–the governments of the region, in trying to improve the quality of life for the average citizen, are constantly faced with challenges of balancing development needs and conservation goals, and the short-term and long-term objectives and benefits of development.

While these factors have generally impacted negatively on conservation, WWF’s Eastern Africa Conservation Action Plan hinges on the assumption that the envisioned improved governance, economic performance and political stability will be favourable to conservation efforts in the future.

WWF’s work in eastern Africa encompasses broader ecosystem conservation, environmental education, institutional development, capacity building and the involvement of communities in the design and implementation of conservation programmes and projects in the region.