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"id": 968397,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/968397/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
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"id": 13184,
"legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
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"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I congratulate our country for participating in the Cop18 international for and for getting all proposals through. Back home, the number one factor that would ensure that our species – both endangered and non-endangered – survive and are preserved for posterity, is that we compensate or support communities to share in the benefits of conservation. I know that this House has stood up to be counted in this regard where, as I said earlier, very progressive and modern laws in terms of resource sharing with communities that host wildlife and other endangered species have been formulated. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we go out into our national parks to see the animals, we think that they are very many. However, if you are told how many of elephants exist within the borders of our country, you will be shocked to note that from a high of hundreds of thousands, we now barely have 50,000. The latest aerial survey came up with about 35,000. We may think that they are very many because we go to a place and we see a few of them, but they are not that many. Although we are now building back the numbers, 70 per cent has already been decimated. This should tell us that even internally in the country, we should start looking at how to conserve and make sure our animals are not endangered. Madam Temporary Speaker, we have hundreds of the black and white rhinos. The Hirola is endangered and at some point, we only had 47 of them in the whole country. These are, therefore, serious issues because we conserve these animals for posterity, and they are the last wildlife and flora and fauna on earth. Therefore, we, as a country, should be supported both by the international community and, in turn, our country should support the communities that are bearing the brunt of conservation. We should also make sure that our country does not end up being one of the countries where we start talking about, “We used to have elephants or lions.” Madam Temporary Speaker, there are only 2,000 lions in our country. I know we pride ourselves, and even our coat or arms have lions. However, I am not sure if we will have our lions on pictures only, or even just breathing. It is serious, and the issue of endangered species is something that we, as a country, must think through. We must make sure that we look at innovative ways of conservation that involve the people. As a country, we should be doing everything from multiple angles internally, and from the international community, as we have done at the Cop18, as you have been told. We must also start putting our resources in conservation and not expect international donors and community to take care of the animals within our borders. Madam Temporary Speaker, I know that the issue of compensation has been mentioned. However, if we start giving communities support, to begin with, even compensation will become irrelevant. This is because communities will not even be asking for it since they will feel like they own the animal. In terms of the forest cover, yes, it is pathetic that we do not even have the basic 10 per cent. However, as we have said, we need to make sure that our communities are involved in the issue of forest cover. Some of the places in Northern Kenya actually have more than 50 per cent forest cover. They may look bare, but the indigenous forests that were there at the beginning of time are still there. These are some of the things that we need to make sure that the indigenous forests are conserved. Sometimes the introduction The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}