Environmental Issues

Wildlife management refers to the keeping of wild animal species at numbers desired by the relevant authorities dealing with wildlife. The levels are controlled and ensured that they are neither too high nor low. If either occurs, then proper measures are taken to return the numbers to a manageable level. It encompasses game keeping, wildlife conservation and pest control.

Brief
Canada and Kenya have a lot of wildlife that is especially important for their economies in terms of tourism. Canada has over 70,000 known species of flora and fauna. Canadas wildlife is protected and managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Canadas wildlife consists of animals such as the American Beaver, the Bobcat, Polar bears, geese, ducks, and the Canadian lynx. The most popular animals are the Beaver, Bobcat, Canadian lynx, Polar bear and wolves.

Kenyas wildlife is protected and managed by the KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service) (Kenya Wildlife Service, n.d.). Kenya boasts of numerous wildlife both flora and fauna. However, it is a popular tourist attraction mostly due to the big five the African elephant, leopard, lions, buffalo and rhinoceros. There are more such as the flamingo, cheetah and antelope.

Just like any other resource, wildlife has to be managed and both countries have systems, regulations, policies and legislation to ensure that this happens.

Review
Canada has its wildlife managed in designated areas Migratory bird sanctuaries, National Parks and National Wildlife areas (Nature Canada, n.d.). National parks include Banff, Buffalo, Elk Island and Glacier National Parks (Wikipedia, 2010). There are also Zoos that serve the same purpose Toronto and Edmonton zoos are examples.

Wildlife in Canada is managed by the provinces and divided regions that have the responsibility on most matters to do with conservation. For a long time, wildlife faced the problem of extinction especially mammals in North America. A Constitutional Act in 1867 was passed to encourage wildlife conservation and create areas where wildlife could be protected. Banff Park was the first National park set up in 1885 (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d.) Sanctuaries and parks since then began to be created as a solution. Bans were put in place against killing wildlife and over time, there was recovery. Some of the wildlife protected from hunting included the whooping crane, white tailed deer, sea otter and the beaver (Mease, n.d.). The constitution grants provinces rights to manage wildlife within the provinces. The federal government also has some powers and control over areas that lie within the federal jurisdiction (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d). A migratory birds Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada in 1917 that made the federal government responsible for the management of migrating birds species, be they harmful or not. Another act, the Canadian Wildlife Act, was also passed in 1973 to authorize the federal government to research wildlife and practice wildlife conservation by partnering with provinces (Canadian Biodiversity, n.d.).

Hunting of some animals has been allowed by the government over time. There are black bear, whitetail deer, mule deer, moose, elk, cougar, and wolf hunts organized during the hunting seasons.

The Migratory Birds Act (MBCA) passed in 1994, regulates the hunting of migratory birds. Through it, the nests and eggs of migrating birds and the birds themselves are protected and the trafficking and commercialization of such birds is prevented. Permits are required for use of the migrating birds. The Canadian wildlife Act passed in 1973 ensured the protection of birds, wildlife and habitat by authorizing the creation of National Wildlife Areas (Canadian Biodiversity, n.d.). It was created in order to conserve the homes of wildlife species particularly endangered wildlife. The illegal trading and trafficking of wildlife resources is controlled by the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (Canadian Biodiversity, n.d.)  There are also non-governmental organizations that play a role in wildlife management. Such are Canadian wildlife federation, Nature Canada and Ducks Unlimited that assist provincially in protecting wildlife. Surveys are done regularly on different wildlife to give the management agencies necessary information on how to best approach wildlife management.

The management of wildlife in Kenya is held responsible by the Kenya Wildlife Service which was established in 1992. It aims to protect wildlife and ensure its sustainability through conservation efforts. Wildlife in Kenya is mainly managed in Game Parks and Reserves. Examples include the Aberdare, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, and the Tsavo (Ministry of Tourism, n.d.) For Kenya, tourism is one of the major contributors of the economy and therefore, wildlife plays a big role. There are problems in Kenya that are experienced in the management of wildlife.

For a long time, hunting of the African elephants for their valuable ivory led to the endangerment of elephants in the country. This led to a ban that was enforced in 1977. There have also been threats on the lion from locals that live within the reserves. The Maasai, a tribe in Kenya, have been known to kill lions in revenge. In 1999, they killed almost 50 lions because of their frequent attacks on their livestock. Another problem is the population of people living in reserves which brings conflict (Kimega, 2003). In National Parks, human activity is tolerated since the communities originally lived there. This sometimes results in attacks from wild animals and the KWS is forced to compensate the people on damages caused. Communities also living around parks and reserves are also affected by wildlife that may wander off into their territories. Migrating birds such as flamingoes have been affected by pollution of lakes such as Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. Efforts have been made to reduce the incidences of wildlife endangerment and how they affect human populations. Recently, an electric fence was commissioned that surrounds the Aberdare national park and this was a big step forward for the countrys environmental conservation efforts. Lion proof bomas (community shelters) have been erected for communities living next to national parks to reduce the incidences of human animal interaction.

In 1979, Parliamentary Act no. 5 was passed by Kenyas Parliament banning the trade of wildlife and their products. Another Act passed in 1977 Legal Notice no. 120 also banned the hunting of wildlife. The Conservation and Management Act of 1989 also sought to ensure the protection of wildlife and gave the KWS authority to arrest poachers. Gazetting of the land on which the National Parks and Reserves lie has also been done. This serves to ensure that the land on which the Parks lie on are under the protection of the Government as a National Heritage (Kenya Land Alliance, 2005).
Similarities and Differences

There are similarities and differences between the wildlife management in Kenya and in Canada.
In Canada, wildlife management is done mainly by the Canadian wildlife service. A similar case exists in Kenya where management is done by the Kenya Wildlife Service. Both serve the purpose of managing wildlife and conservation in the respective countries.

Legislations such as Acts of Parliament have been passed in both countries to ensure the proper management of wildlife and to promote their protection and conservation. The Conservation and Management Act in Kenya and the Migratory Birds Act (MBCA) in Canada are examples of efforts made by legislators in both countries to get hold of the situation of wildlife management.

In both countries, both the government and non-governmental organizations are taking part in the management and preservation of wildlife. This goes to show that wildlife management and conservation has been taken seriously in both countries. Efforts are being made to protect wildlife. In Canada, examples include Nature Canada and Ducks Unlimited and in Kenya, examples include the National Environmental Management Authority and Youth for Conservation.

Despite the similarities, there are major differences in the management of wildlife.
In Kenya, the hunting of wildlife was banned in 1977 with the passing of the Legal Notice no. 120 Act. Although there are plans to allow hunting of some wildlife to control populations, nothing has been officially passed. In Canada however, hunting of some birds and bears is allowed as long as regulations are adhered to and permits obtained. Canada goose, rail, moorhen, snipe and squirrel hunting seasons ran from the beginning of September to the end of October.

The management efforts of wildlife and preservation in Kenya are mostly undertaken by the government through the KWS and there is no provincial responsibility for the management of wildlife. In Canada, due to the division into provincial governments, regional management of wildlife is undertaken provincially and most responsibility lies with the regional authorities.

Efforts of wildlife management in Canada began way back as far as the 1800s. In Kenya however, efforts to protect wildlife and take the management of wildlife seriously dates back to the 1970s which is much later than in Canada.

Conclusion
In Canada, the Ministry aims to protect wildlife by forwarding recommendations to the cabinet legislations relating to wildlife, enforcing legislation to do with wildlife by authority of the Wildlife Act and overseeing the collection and analysis of  information to do with all species.

In Kenya, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife formulates policies to involve local communities in the management of natural resources, encouraging the creation of more areas for conserving wildlife, and partnering with international organizations involved in protection of wildlife.

The efforts made in both countries to protect the wildlife seem to be working. Both countries have realized the importance of wildlife. Such efforts will go a long way in ensuring that there is wildlife for future generations.