Africa's Masai Mara Reserve: study shows alarming decline in wildlife

Ocean conservationists often talk of how commercial activities impact marine environments to where species populations are brought to a tipping point, when the steady decline in numbers can reach a point of sudden collapse. From sharks to coral reefs, species after species are being impacted by commercial fishing, urban development, or other human activities and, left unchecked, could lead to dire and irreversible consequences.

This is not a scenario exclusive or unique to the oceans. In Kenya, within the Masai Mara reserve, a similar situation is taking place which has brought about a crash in the wild animal populations over the past 30 years. According to a study recently published in Journal of Zoology, researchers have determined that the number of impala, warthog, giraffe, topi, and hartebeest have declined by over 70%. Where huge herds of wildebeest would migrate from the Serengeti through the Mara region, their numbers have now dropped by 64% and the reserve's resident wildebeest population during the wet season has effectively disappeared, declining by as much as 97%.

"We were very surprised by what we found," said Dr. Joseph Ogutu from the University of Hohenheim, Germany and who headed up the study. "The Mara has lost more than two thirds of its wildlife."

In reaching their conclusions, the researchers combed through aerial photographs and monitoring data of animal herds and populations dating back to 1977. Over this 33-year period, they saw, among the 12 species of large animals, ostriches, and livestock studied, a drastic, relentless, and unexpected decline. Only a few species either within the reserve or just outside of its boundaries managed to maintain their numbers or show slight improvement. Since a major conservation effort was begun at the start of 2000, the researchers anticipated much greater improvement in the animal populations. But such was not the case.

To be sure, poaching has played a significant role in the decline, as it has in many developing nations. According to the BBC news, over 1500 poachers have been arrested within the Mara conservancy between 2001 and 2010, with more than 17,300 snares collected by rangers in the same period.

However, in addition to poaching, cattle grazing has played as great, if not greater, a role. The expansion of land used by ranchers for grazing, both within the reserve and outside its borders, has diminished the size and quality of wild animal habitat.

"Not only have numbers of cattle, sheep and goats increased but their distribution has widened, with the density of cattle increasing more than three-fold and that of sheep and goats more than seven fold up to 5km inside the reserve," Dr. Ogutu noted. "Sadly though, wildlife distribution has contracted throughout the entire Mara region in the same period."

Overgrazing impacts the natural fauna which can spill over into the remaining open land. The wild animal populations of the Mara region and, indeed, of all of Kenya, have evolved based on available area, quality of grazing land and food sources, and the animals' reproductive rates - all combine to make for a stable population. So, to put it simply, if you take away half the land, the animal population does not simply adjust and reduce itself by half. Instead, the once balanced system begins to collapse.

Just as industrial overfishing and degradation of marine habitat from development and population, when left unchecked or unregulated, can threaten marine ecosystems, so it is on the dry savannas of Kenya that poaching and expanding ranch land can threaten the rich animal diversity and expansive herds we have always come to associate with Africa.

The BBC News noted, "The expansion of settlements, fences and livestock numbers need to be regulated if these declines in wildlife are to be arrested, the researchers proposed, as well as bringing down poaching levels."

"Otherwise, the status of Masai Mara as a prime conservation area and premier tourist draw card in Kenya may soon be in jeopardy," said Dr Ogutu.

Belize Biodiversity At Risk: Bladen Nature Reserve threatened

The nation of Belize, bordered by Guatemala and Mexico to the left and the Caribbean Sea to its right, is a land of rich natural resources and a strong tourism base, particularly for vacationing scuba divers. Recognizing that its lush tropical woodlands constitute a natural treasure and heritage, the Belize government has had to balance the demands of development with conservation and preservation of its forests.

To that end, the Bladen Nature Reserve was established in the northwest portion of the southern district of Toledo, bordering Guatemala. Established in 1990 and now managed by the Ya'ache' Conservation Trust, the reserve consists of 97,000 acres of pristine tropical forest containing a wide diversity in plant and animal life. It is also under siege.

According to Channel5Belize.com, the biodiversity of the Bladen Nature Reserve is being undermined by animal poachers, those who illegally harvest the xate palm, and even legitimate developers who are eying the Central River that runs through the reserve as a potential hydroelectric plant site.

The threats to the Bladen Nature Reserve are a microcosm of what many nature reserves face around the world. Xate, a type of palm popular in floral displays and for Christian religious ceremonies, has been heavily harvested in neighboring Guatemala. So, xate harvesters, known as Xateros, have been routinely crossing the Belize border and stripping the reserve of its xate, setting up harvesting camps - where the palm leaves are hung to dry - and hiding from government officials in caves. In addition, animal poachers enter the reserve to capture many of the reserve's animals for foreign markets, particularly colorfully-plumed birds like macaws and curassows.

As is the case with many developing nations trying to protect their natural resources, the Belize government has limited resources available to patrol and enforce protection of the reserve. According to Channel5Belize, "The expansive acreage is the most protected area in the country yet it remains under constant threat from poachers and developers both in and outside of its confines. For years this territory has been used for illegal hunting and harvesting. Despite joint efforts by conservationists and various government agencies incursion by xateros is unavoidable."

The extent of the illegal harvesting has been taking a toll on the forest overall, and with deforestation comes soil erosion. This produces sediments washed down by rains into the reserve's Monkey River Watershed, which adversely impacts water supplies for many communities all the way out to the Caribbean Sea where excess sediment has been fouling coral reefs in Belize's Barrier Reef - which can, in turn, threaten Belize's diving tourism.

To top it off, the energy demands of a growing populace have developers looking at the reserve as a possible location for a hydroelectric plant along the Central River. The government has granted permission for the developers to conduct research, despite the efforts of others who say it violates the reserve's charter and regulations.

"Why are we granting someone a permit to study it for commercial interest when you're saying that these commercial activities can, in fact, not be allowed in these areas? So what is the long term intent? Is it to de-reserve these areas and allow these commercial developments to happen?" said Lisel Alamilla, Executive Director of the Ya'ache' Conservation Trust.

Efforts are being taken by the Ya'ache' Trust's managers, researchers, and conservationists to present a more detailed "big picture" view of the problem for government officials. Otherwise, little by little, a magnificent and ecologically important piece of Belize's heritage could disappear forever.

Read about threats to the reserve at Channel5 Belize.com.
Read about the Xate palm.