SMALLHOLDER FARMERS PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY IN VARIED AGROECOLOGICAL ZONES IN KENYA

Abstract

Global warming has resulted in climate risks such as persistent droughts in tropical countries, including Kenya. Farmers are now changing agricultural practices to cope with drought, which is usually accompanied by variation in biodiversity. The present study determined how farmers perceived the changes over a period of 30 years. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data in Bungoma, Nakuru, Kajiado, Embu (Mbeere) and Kilifi Counties. Weather stations and the Kenya Meteorological Services provided climatic data. Results showed that rainfall fluctuated and amount increased slowly over time; rainy seasons decreased and storms became frequent. Dry periods were frequent and annual temperatures were increasing. Some animals, plants, birds and insects had either disappeared like elephants and lions in Mbeere, butterflies and termites in all sites; mosquitoes, weevils and red mites in all sites, tortoise and scorpions in Mbeere, Jatropha curcas and Lantana camara in Mbeere increased in numbers; others emerged (great grain borer in Mbeere and Kilifi, black Indian crow in Kilifi, Ipomoea species in Kajiado and Prosopis juliflora in Kilifi). Some invasive plant species such as Prosopis juliflora were out-competing crops and pastures, predators were invading homesteads, carnivorous birds were becoming omnivorous and insect vectors and pests like mosquitoes and weevils were extending their habitats to former cooler areas. Farmers were harvesting and conserving water in water pans, zai pits and terraces. They were also planting fast-growing multipurpose trees such as Senna siamea, rearing diverse animals and growing drought tolerant crops. It was evident from this study that climate change had a severe impact on biodiversity within the stressed habitats and some species were already being replaced by aliens. It is recommended that Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations should create more awareness and promptly support farmers to adapt and mitigate climate change challenges.