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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 003167 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES, OES/EGC ED FENDLEY AND DREW NELSON, AF/E, AND AF/EPS 
DEPT PASS TO NASA FOR JACK KAYE 
DEPT PASS TO USGS 
POSTS FOR REO AND ESTH OFFICERS 
ADDIS ABABA FOR REO LISA BRODEY 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG ECON KE
SUBJECT: KENYA WANTS GREATER ACCESS TO GEOSPATIAL IMAGERY TO REDUCE 
CONFLICT AND PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT 
 
 
¶1.  Summary: Speaking at a recent international conference in 
Nairobi, Kenya's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai said 
that increased access to geospatial information can help countries 
like Kenya to improve management of natural resources, reduce 
conflict promote sustainable use of resources, and adapt to climate 
change.  She challenged attendees to bridge the technology gap in 
this area between rich and poor countries.  The United States 
continues to provide geospatial information through imagery, 
training and research, and  U.S. LANDSAT satellite imagery is viewed 
as an opportunity to "fast-track" development.  Maathai and others 
believe NASA and other USG agencies should increase the availability 
of inexpensive, high resolution, timely imagery and resources as a 
means to reduce or prevent environmental degradation and resulting 
conflicts over water, land, and animal resources. End Summary. 
 
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Africa Cannot Afford to Fall Further Behind 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  "Geospatial Technology for Biodiversity Conservation and 
Management" was the theme of the July 18-20 Society for Conservation 
Geographic Information Systems (SCGIS) conference sponsored by the 
United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the Gordon and Betty 
Moore Foundation.  Some two hundred attendees heard from a variety 
of guest speakers, including Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize laureate 
Wangari Maathai, who promoted increasing awareness of technology and 
its application in Kenya, and exposing young people and policymakers 
to the possibilities and potentials of geospatial technology. She 
said GIS technology is an inexpensive method for assessing past and 
current conditions as well as modeling future implications of land 
use activities.  She believes policy-makers, donors and local 
communities will increasingly rely on GIS technology to more 
effectively manage resources and mediate conflicts over limited 
resources. 
 
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"Ring the Bell" on Climate Change 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Maathai claimed there is not enough concern and anxiety in 
Africa concerning climate change, even though it is understood that 
Africa will be significantly impacted, and she directed her audience 
to "ring the bell" on the importance of mitigating the impact. She 
cited the example of the billion tree-planting campaign launched by 
UNEP and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry 
(ICRAF) as a symbolic effort to energize people around the world to 
do something about the environment. Prof. Maathai emphasized each of 
the delegate's carbon footprints, including carbon emitted en route 
to the meeting through aircraft, automobiles, and even walking.  She 
encouraged everyone to plant ten trees to account for their carbon 
dioxide emissions. 
 
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Conflict Over Resources 
----------------------- 
 
 
NAIROBI 00003167  002 OF 003 
 
 
¶4.  A common theme within the conference was the conflict over 
resources between different groups of people and between humans and 
wildlife. One speaker cited examples of participatory geographic 
information systems (PGIS) in Tanzania in which communities use 
geospatial maps to identify regions of conflicts over resources and 
negotiate boundaries. Such tools will become increasingly important 
as the population continues to grow and resources decline. In a 
follow-up discussion with EconOff, Dr. Tesfaye Korme of the Regional 
Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) noted the 
current violent land disputes in the Mt. Elgon region of Kenya and 
discussed the history of using geospatial technology to establish 
boundaries and reduce land conflicts in the region. Korme expressed 
his appreciation for the important role NASA and other USG agencies 
played in establishing the facility in 1975, contributing remote 
sensing data, and enabling the center to serve as a focal point in 
geospatial research, training and distribution. Korme specifically 
commended a proposed early flood warning project with NASA. 
 
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Successful Applications of GIS in Kenya 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  A few strong examples showed how using GIS for monitoring the 
environment can influence policy and humanitarian applications. 
Elephants are a key tourist attraction, but are in growing conflict 
as people encroach upon reserves. Male elephants seeking higher 
quality food during reproductive periods commonly leave protected 
areas at night to graze in farmers' fields, resulting in conflict 
and death on both sides. Using GIS in combination with other 
technologies, researchers are able to track their movements and try 
to limit harm. Dr. Mohammed Said of the International Livestock 
Research Institute (ILRI) highlighted the use of GIS in poverty 
mapping for the allocation of development funds and evaluating 
advances in overcoming poverty. Mr. Christian Lambrechts of UNEP 
used time series images to graphically demonstrate the loss of 
forest in the Maasai Mara. The images evoked a very strong response 
from the government; recovery efforts are currently underway. 
 
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Comment 
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¶6.  The conference was well attended and the participants were very 
enthusiastic regarding the many uses of GIS technology to support 
conservation and conflict resolution in Kenya.  The consensus among 
attendees was that, through sustainable management of resources, 
humans and wildlife could get along in harmony.  The USG continues 
to make geospatial information available by providing imagery, 
training and research. Despite concerns about time delays and poor 
image resolution, many individuals expressed their appreciation for 
U.S. LANDSAT satellite imagery, saying it is the most usable and 
affordable GIS resource to help "fast-track" development. 
Researchers and practitioners are anxious to expand the use and 
application of geospatial analysis in the fields of conservation, 
policymaking, poverty alleviation and conflict resolution.  USG 
efforts to provide more affordable, timely, high resolution imagery 
 
NAIROBI 00003167  003 OF 003 
 
 
will contribute to these shared goals and to the U.S.-Kenya 
partnership. 
RANNEBERGER