KWS DIRECTOR PROF ERUSTUS KANGA URGES RESIDENTS TO PROTECT ENDANGERED 25,000-HA OF SHIMBA HILLS ECOSYSTEM

Kenya Wildlife service Director general Prof Erustus Kanga issuing a speech at Kwale County

By Erick Wanjala

The Chairman Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Koipaton and Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has sounded an alarm over the rapid destruction of a 25,000-hectare of Shimba Hills forest that is now on the brink of extinction, calling on local residents to take urgent action in conserving and protecting the endangered ecosystem.

Speaking during a the event in Kwale County where the deputy governor H.E. Chirema Kombo was present , the director general warned that unchecked logging, charcoal burning, and encroachment for farming have pushed the once-thriving forest to the edge. He noted that the loss of the forest would not only threaten wildlife habitats but also expose surrounding communities to the effects of climate change, including droughts, water shortages, and soil erosion.

“This forest is a national heritage. It is the source of rivers, home to wildlife, and a critical carbon sink. If we continue destroying it, we are risking our own survival,” said the DG Prof Kanga

The DG Prof Erustus appealed to residents, local leaders, and conservation groups to collaborate in reforestation programs, sustainable land use, and community-driven forest patrols. He also emphasized that KWS will intensify enforcement measures against illegal logging and poaching activities within the forest.

Community elders and youth groups present at the forum pledged to support conservation initiatives, saying they were ready to work with KWS to restore the forest to its original state.

Environmental experts have consistently warned that Kenya loses thousands of hectares of forest cover annually, undermining the country’s efforts to combat climate change. The protection of the 25,000-hectare forest, they argue, could serve as a model for community-driven conservation.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), alongside conservation partners, officially launched the Shimba Hills Ecosystem Management Plan (2023–2033) at its Kwale County regional office. Gazetted in November 2024, the Plan is the result of four years of research and stakeholder collaboration. It is designed to guide sustainable conservation while aligning with Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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