International Journal of Research in Environmental Studies
ISSN: 2059-1977
Vol. 6(2), pp. 14-26, March 2019
doi.org/10.33500/ijres.2019.06.002

Convention on biological diversity and rural-urban connections with reference to Kenya

Parita Sureshchandra Shah* and Elias H. O. Ayiemba

Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: suryasuru@yahoo.co.uk.

Received 25 January, 2019; Received in revised form 18 March, 2019; Accepted 22 March, 2019.

Abstract

Keywords:
Protected areas, Rural, Urban, Linkages, Biodiversity.

In many biodiversity-rich countries, biodiversity which is a natural resource is known to power their green economy. This is because billions of people depend on it directly and indirectly. Today many countries are trying to implement the biodiversity Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) so as to build a robust biodiversity economy for sustainable development. One way in which this is being done is by setting up protected areas (PAs). Most of the PAs are being set up in rural areas away from the urban jungles and broadening the rural based economic development so that both rural and urban areas can become the key drivers for biodiversity conservation. The focus of this paper is on rural-urban connections with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) MEA. The case studies are Lake Nakuru National Park which is located in an urban set up and the Arabuko Sokoke Forest which is in a rural set up. Data was collected from the sites of the two PAs. Purposive sampling was used to collect the data. The results were based on infrastructure and human resources and the challenges faced in the individual sites. SWOT analysis was used to show the potential of the CBD MEA so as to strengthen the rural-urban links in terms of biodiversity. Biodiversity can be better safeguarded through rural-urban linkages with institutional management, education and support for the biodiversity sector.