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Among the areas identified as being suitable for exclusion were protected areas, wetlands, areas under cultivation, wildlife movement corridors, human conflict areas, slopes over 45% and important bird areas.
In terms of the size of suitable area, sweet sorghum has the highest coverage of 185,821 km2 (32.6%) followed by castor at 171,557 km2 (30.1%) and Jatropha at 15,047 km2 (27.6%). The feedstock with the least area suitability is coconut with 1,860 km2 (0.3%) followed by palm oil at 9,359 Km2 (1.6%) and canola at 12,743 km2 (2.2%). Feedstocks with wider suitability could be more appropriate when considering a national biofuel programme, but this is not to say that the smaller feedstocks in terms of area should be ignored, since different feedstock have their advantages and disadvantages.
It can also be expected that indigenous feedstocks such as Croton megalocarpus may emerge to have a more extended range than predicted and be less problematic than currently-better-known crops such as Jatropha.
The result of this comparison has shown that the coastal, central and western areas have the highest potential for feedstock production given the high number of feedstocks suitability per scene. Northern and South-western Kenya has the lowest potential.
Most feedstocks yield best in agriculturally high potential arable lands. Few feedstocks (castor and sweet sorghum) were classified as highly suitable in areas of marginal to medium agricultural potential. Others such as Jatropha are tolerant to drought and, once established, can survive in agriculturally marginal areas.
However, without sufficient rainfall and nutrients, general yield and productivity is very low, making these areas unprofitable for investing in non-irrigated feedstock production. Therefore, careful balancing is required between high suitability areas for feedstock production and the overarching need to safeguard food production and water resources.
Marginal and degraded areas, where production of biofuels would pose the least competition with food crops may not yield commercial results with most feedstocks unless accompanied by heavy investment in soil fertility improvement, water harvesting and conservation. Research is needed to develop arid or semi-arid feedstock varieties that are productive in such areas. There is a need for clear policies, including appropriate policy incentives to attract investors to the agriculturally marginal (degraded) areas.
In view of increased demand for extensive land areas for investing in bio-fuels, there is need to improve the land administration systems to deal with conflicting claims between different vested interests and the traditional land usages and ownership rights that are emerging under bio-fuels expansion. There is need to ensure that changes in land use and practices associated with bio-fuel production are sustainable. Responsible land allocation, land use change and policy enforcement are required to manage competition over land, reducing food insecurity and encroachment on protected and communal areas.
There needs to be careful consideration of whether to promote non-edible feedstock for biofuel production in place of edible oils. In Kenya, jatropha, castor and croton have been given high priority by development agents, while edible oils such as palm oil, coconut, sunflower, crambe and canola have been less considered. This focus is not based on any policy guidelines and is in contrast to Tanzania, where there is large scale planting of palm oil for biofuel. There is a need for a clear policy on this to guide investors on suitable Kenyan feedstock development.
A strategic, comprehensive and credible Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that prevents unsuitable crops needs to be undertaken for all biofuel development projects, especially those in areas of high biodiversity, wildlife, forest and water conservation. The EIAs conducted must meet international standards such the internationally recognized principles published by The International Association for Impact Assessment. The Convention on Biological Diversity and Ramsar Convention, as well as the Round table on Sustainable biofuels, have produced guidance on EIAs and these, along with the current guidelines from the Kenyan National Environment Management Authority can provide for environmental and social safeguards in biofuel development.
Areas of high conservation value, global and national endemic species habitats, biodiversity hotspots, remaining woodland and forest stands, wetlands and key water catchments need to be identified, listed and actively excluded from any large scale biofuel introduction. If these areas are not protected Kenya’s functioning but fragile ecosystems will not support future development.
A development and conservation Master Plan should precede any large scale biofuel development to ensure that social, economic, conservation and development objectives are taken on board at the same level and scale.
Biodiversity and endemic habitats that have evolved over decades and centuries are effectively irreplaceable. It is critical that conservation planning precedes development planning, to avoid irreversible biodiversity and habitat losses. It is also important to develop management plans and mobilize resources to support any conservation areas set aside, in order to maintain globally threatened species, fragile ecosystems and associated invaluable ecological goods and services. Well-managed conservation areas would in turn provide a healthy environment and safe buffer zones for any future development projects and provide adequate insect pollinators, birdlife and natural pest predators.
Since most of the biodiversity resources are trans-boundary in nature, the study recommends carrying out a similar study in all eastern Africa countries.
Principals in the study have been Benard O Muok (ACTS/PISCES), Meshack Nyabenge (ICRAF), Benson Okita Ouma (KWS), Anthony O Esilaba and Tabeel Nandokha (KARI) and Benard Owuor (KEFRI).
  For further information please contact Benard Muok (B.Muok@acts.or.ke)
or visit the PISCES webite www.pisces.or.ke.
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