|
Natural Resources and the Environment
Mineral resources
Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies fluorspar, garnets
Water resources
Annual internal renewable water resources: 696 cu m Per Capita (1998); Sector withdrawals - domestic 20%; Industrial 4%; Agricultural 76%. Water resources are under pressure from agriculture, domestic use, and hydroelectric power.
Land and wildlife
The Kenyan highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. Glaciers on Mr Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value.
Key Environmental Concerns:
Poaching, rapidly accelerating deforestation, soil erosion, and depletion of mineral resources, water pollution from urban and industrial waster; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers, desertification. Overexploitation during the past 30 years has reduced the country’s timber resources by half, while in the past five years the output of forestry, fishing, and mining industries has declined significantly. Forests are being lost not only to provide wood fuel, but also because of clearing for agriculture, construction, tourism and industrial activities. The countries wide natural biodiversity is being rapidly reduced.
Environmental policy and manifestation:
The government has prioritized the adoption of sustainable policies towards the country’s natural resources. International agreements - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Natural hazards:
Recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons
|
