Prospects of scenario planning for Kenya's protected ecosystems: An example of Mount Marsabit

Place-based scenario planning can systematically explore and anticipate future uncertainties regarding interactions between human and the environment. However, to date, few studies explicitly link scenarios at different social-ecological scales, particularly, for forests and Protected Areas (PA) in Eastern Africa. To address this gap, we developed scenario narratives to illuminate how divergent futures may unfold and what opportunities exist to improve future management of Mount Marsabit forest PA in northern Kenya. This ecosystem is under unprecedented degradation, and with use by multiple stakeholders, exhibits a complex governance arrangement. We compared local participants' perspectives on change with predetermined global scenarios from the literature. Thirty-six key informant interviews were conducted to identify drivers of change and potential impacts. Twenty-six participants partook the scenario development process (SDP), from which four divergent but plausible exploratory scenarios were generated namely: a) land use conflicts resolution in the context of traditional governance systems b) strategic advisory group-led governance of Mt. Marsabit PA c) community-led governance of Mt. Marsabit PA, and d) addressing climate change and drought effects in forest through policy development and community inclusion. Results were then compared with themes from global scenario group archetypes. Local stakeholders, as in the global archetypes, emphasized social values, market forces, and policy reform as major influencers in determining the future (2070) of Mt. Marsabit forest PA. However, stakeholders were less concerned with institutional breakdown, an important theme from the global scenario's perspectives. Our findings offer a new approach to analyzing similarities and differences between scenarios' narratives and local perspectives, and contributes to the growing body of place-based scenario studies

The Juvenile Hormone Analogue W-328 Affects Adult Development and Emergence in the Tsetse Fly, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae)

The tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Newstead (Diptera: Glossinidae) transmits protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, which cause human trypanosomosis

An investigation of the antifertility effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate in rabbits

A series of studies was carried out to investigate feasibility of chemical fertility control in wild rabbit populations. Initial trials were designed to investigate in vivo kinetics and bioavailability properties of MPA in rabbit plasma and effects of a single oral dose on fertility in females. MPA was incorporated into carrots or feed pellets before administration. Plasma concentration of MPA reached maximum levels 1 - 12 h post treatment and declined to undetectable values after 1 or 8 days depending on dosage. An oral dose of 10 mg MPA/rabbit caused complete infertility in females mated 1 day but did not affect fertility in those mated 8 days after treatment. Animals orally dosed with 100 or 1000 mg MPA were infertile when mated 1 day but not 29 days post treatment. It was concluded that MPA is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract following incorporation in feed of rabbits, its bioavailability is dose-dependent in the dose range tested and a single oral dose of 10 mg or more causes complete infertility for at least 1 day following treatment. Further trials were conducted to investigate the mode of action of MPA in female rabbits. In one such experiment, rabbits were mated following a single oral dose of MPA and post mating plasma progesterone and LH concentration measured in order to determine ovarian and pituitary endocrine activity. There was no post mating increase in plasma hormone concentrations until 4 days following MPA treatment. A single oral dose of 10 mg MPA provided a contraceptive effect in female rabbits for a period of 4 days and this appeared to be directly related to its bioavailability. In another experiment, rabbits mated 3 - 6 days following MPA treatment were killed 28 - 30 h post mating. The ovaries were examined for ovulation sites, oviducts flushed with saline solution and the washings examined for embryos. MPA either blocked ovulation or lowered the ovulation rates of rabbits mated 3 days post treatment. Rabbits mated 4 - 6 days had normal ovulation rates. There were no effects of MPA on oocyte fertilization. In an experiment to determine if MPA acts at the level of the hypothalamus or the pituitary, ovariectomised rabbits were injected i.m. with 250 ng GnRH before and after a single oral dose of MPA. Although MPA significantly lowered basal plasma LH concentration, response of LH secretion to the GnRH challenge was not suppressed by its administration. These results indicate that a single oral dose of MPA affects the ovulatory process in mated rabbits for up to 4 days by blocking the preovulatory LH surge and ovarian endocrine activity, and that the effect is directed mainly at the level of the hypothalamus. In another series of experiments, MPA was administered to mated rabbits in early-, midor late-pregnancy and effects on conception, pregnancy and parturition determined. MPA had no effects on conception or pregnancy. However, when administered as a single large oral dose (1000 mg/rabbit) or as low multiple doses (10 mg/rabbit/day x 5) in late-pregnancy, MPA significantly inhibited normal parturition. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of the effects of MPA on parturition could not be determined and there is a need for further study on this potentially very important effect of MPA

Karyotype divergence between two subspecies of the typical striped grass mouse Lemniscomys striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia, Muridae)

[No abstract available

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in Water Resources Management among Smallholder Irrigators in the Tsavo Sub-Catchment, Kenya

The rising demand for food production in a changing climate impacts water resources negatively in semi-arid agro-ecosystems. In the Tsavo sub-catchment of Kenya, this is compounded by a surging population and expansion of cropping as a land use; leading to increased abstraction of surface water resources and deterioration of related ecosystem services. The impact of increased abstraction is more profound during water stress seasons when stream-flow levels are low. While water policies have incorporated a requirement for environmental flows, unregulated abstractions persist suggesting an inherent challenge. Drawing on a sample of 279 households, we analysed farmers’ engagement in water resources management and explored how this can inform water resource planning. Seasonal water scarcity and user conflicts were the major challenges experienced by the farmers. Ordinal and logistic regression models show that knowledge, attitude and practices were culture-dependent being impacted by educational attainment, level of income, access to extension and membership to local networks. Attitude and practice were further influenced by land tenure and farm distance to water sources. Since knowledge of water management issues informed attitudes and practices, improved awareness and targeted extension support are necessary in the development and implementation of policy decisions on water resources management

Investigating the Knowledge and Attitudes towards Plastic Pollution among the Youth in Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya has made many attempts to regulate the production of single-use plastics through partial bans and the imposition of hefty taxes. Whereas government initiatives are crucial to resolving single-use plastic pollution, commitments made by youths can be an important part of the solution. Yet, youths are habituated to using single-use plastics without understanding fully their negative impacts. Understanding the knowledge and attitudes of youths is of the utmost importance in the effort to turn the tide against plastic pollution. This study set out to investigate knowledge and attitudes towards single-use plastics among youths in Nairobi, Kenya. This was a mixed study approach, where both qualitative and quantitative data were derived. The results showed that youths perceive single-use plastics as a serious environmental and health issue. Most respondents expressed willingness to switch to reusable alternatives if provided with financial incentives. In addition, the results showed stronger support for enhanced awareness campaigns and plastic recycling infrastructure. Social media was the most preferred channel to disseminate plastic pollution messaging among the youth. These findings are important in policy development for intensifying awareness and targeting a range of communication and financial support to reduce single-use plastic pollution

Rodent pest management in East Africa—an ecological approach

Rodent Pest Management in East AfricaRodents are by far the greatest vertebrate pest problem in East Africa. They are responsible for substantial damage to food and cash crops, structures and industrial and domestic property. More than 25 species of rodents have been recorded as pests in agriculture, causing a wide range of damage and losses in cereals, legumes, vegetables, root crops, cotton and sugarcane. Pest species occupy a diversity of habitats, including cultivated fields, urban environments and domestic areas. Other than being instrumental in crop damage, they are also reservoirs and carriers of zoonotic diseases, which in some areas of East Africa have claimed many victims. The management of rodents has focused on conventional methods, mainly the use of rodenticides as a symptomatic treatment approach. These methods are supported by government, especially to contain outbreaks. However, conventional control methods have remained largely ineffective. An ecological approach for management of rodent outbreaks is not widely practiced for lack of basic experimental data to substantiate its efficacy. Measures that are practiced on a limited scale but have a wide scope for future management of rodents in East Africa include various techniques of environmental manipulation that specifically focus on altering the suitable habitats for rodents to reduce their carrying capacity. Strategies for management of rodent populations in urban areas, in post-harvest crop systems and in response to disease outbreaks are not well developed. For the future, a more pragmatic approach is required, involving among other things, better planning of urban housing schemes, sanitation and hygienic measures; improved storage structures and practices; and ecologically focused rodent management techniques. Recent studies on rodent ecology in East Africa have enabled the development of models to forecast outbreaks. These, when incorporated in development and implementation of control activities, may assist in alleviating the damage and losses due to rodents in the future

Environmental Factors Influencing the Sustenance of the Camel Milk Value Chain in Isiolo County, Northern Kenya

Dryland areas in northern Kenya experience challenges due to various factors, including environmental degradation associated with unstable weather conditions and climate change. These and related risks and stressors are threats to the sustenance of camel milk production for many of Kenya’s northern communities. We conducted a study among the pastoral communities in Isiolo County whose principal source of livelihood is dependent on camel production. In this paper, we discuss the drivers of the environmental factors influencing the resilience and sustainability of the camel milk value chain in Isiolo County, northern Kenya. We analyzed (i) the internal factors that influence the system, which includes: the categories and economic contributions of livestock-based value chains, the occupation of the camel milk value chain micro players, and land-use practices in Isiolo County, and (ii) the external factors influencing the system: the climatic variability (2014–2017) and its effect on the camel milk value chain, and the vegetation condition index (VCI) indicating drought trends for Isiolo County (2002–2020). The study adopted a field survey through interviews with randomly selected households involved in the camel milk value chain by using a survey questionnaire and a survey guide for focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII). The results from the study showed camel milk as a dominant value chain among the livestock-based value chain products in Isiolo County, the variations in quantities of camel milk supplied due to changes in seasonality, and we show that the current system is not sustainable. We conclude with recommendations to establish a modernized camel milk value chain based on improved natural resources management for a resilient and sustainable system