The
Conservancy's project is located in a biodiversity hotspot convergence
zone—where the coastal forests of Eastern Africa and
Horn of Africa meet. Much of that area is comprised of Somali
Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets. The coastal
forests of Eastern Africa hotspot (shown in green below) extends from
the Kenya-Somalia border to the Tanzania-Mozambique border and includes
portions of the Tana River.
These forests have over 1,700 threatened endemic animals and plants. Besides
the endangered African wild dog, wildlife species include the critically
endangered hirola,Tana River red colobus, and
Tana
River mangabey, and the vulnerable Aders'
duiker
are also under extreme pressure. Coastal and other forests
are shrinking as land is used by subsistence agriculture, settlement,
and infrastructure. All these factors contribute to an increase in human-wildlife
conflict.
The
Horn
of Africa
hotspot (shown in orange below) covers more than 1.5 million
km² and is one of only two that is entirely arid. The
bushlands of northeastern Kenya are found here. This hotspot has
over 2,700 endemic plants and animals, including threatened antelopes
and more reptiles than anywhere in Africa. Only about 5% of the original
habitat
remains. Livestock grazing is a major cause of these losses, followed
by charcoal harvesting and political instability.
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