Kenya has rolled out a worldwide online platform to boost support for wildlife conservation, positioning the country’s nature-based tourism as a central pillar of its economic resilience strategy.
The Kenya Wildlife Service unveiled the portal on Tuesday during the second day of the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, highlighting the direct link between ecosystem health and tourism stability.
KWS Director General Erustus Kanga, speaking at a high-level panel on wildlife and tourism resilience, said the platform enables individuals, organisations and international partners to fund conservation programmes that protect habitats and sustain tourism-related livelihoods.
“The resilience of our wildlife ecosystems directly shapes the resilience of our tourism industry and, ultimately, the well-being of millions worldwide who depend on it,” he said.
He added that Kenya’s wildlife is not only a source of tourism revenue but also a key part of the nation’s cultural heritage and a vital livelihood for local communities. “Our wildlife resources are an integral part of Kenya’s identity and economy,” Kanga said, underlining the importance of proactive conservation.
The digital portal is designed to modernise conservation funding, offering a broader platform for contributions while lessening reliance on conventional financing sources. This comes as the sector faces increasing challenges, including climate variability, poaching, human-wildlife conflicts and shifts in tourism demand, all of which threaten the sustainability of nature-based models.
Globally, wildlife habitats are under stress from extreme weather, deforestation, illegal trade and other human pressures. Kanga warned that weak ecosystems could disrupt tourism earnings, affect local economies and reverse years of conservation progress.
He highlighted that healthy wildlife systems are essential to maintaining jobs, protecting investor confidence and sustaining the tourism value chain. Wildlife and nature-based experiences form more than 70 per cent of Kenya’s tourism offerings, making their preservation central to the industry’s long-term stability.
Kenya’s conservation framework is supported by the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which treats wildlife as a public trust, promotes community participation, and ensures equitable benefit-sharing.
These principles are reinforced under the KWS Strategic Plan 2024-28, focusing on climate-adaptive strategies, protection of critical species and habitats, technology-driven wildlife management, and strengthened partnerships with communities and international partners.
The plan aligns with global priorities, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to biodiversity protection, climate action and sustainable economic growth. Delegates at the conference heard that countries with well-managed wildlife systems are better able to attract visitors, support employment and maintain tourism-related revenues, while degraded ecosystems increase operational costs and reduce tourist numbers.
Kanga emphasised that Kenya’s approach demonstrates the value of combining conservation, community involvement and innovative financing. “With resilient wildlife systems, tourism thrives. Without strong conservation foundations, tourism resilience cannot be achieved,” he said.
The newly launched portal marks a milestone in mobilising global support, enabling citizens and organisations worldwide to contribute directly to protecting Kenya’s wildlife and restoring ecosystems.
