Establishment of Higher Terrestrial Plants and Animal Species Found in Matayos Division of Busia County, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue III, March 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Establishment of Higher Terrestrial Plants and Animal Species Found in Matayos Division of Busia County, Kenya

Dr. Irene Mutavi¹, Dr. Albert Elim Long’ora^2
1Lecturer, Department of Geography and Natural Resource Management, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Maseno University, P.O Box, 333 Maseno- Kenya
²Lecturer, Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Maseno University, P.O Box, 333 Maseno-Kenya

Abstract:-In order to successfully achieve terrestrial biodiversity protection and conservation, more information is needed about the variety of plants and animal species existing in the ecosphere. Although biodiversity constitute a great asset in Kenya and Busia County at large, it is at risk of getting eroded due to increased anthropogenic activities, and therefore the urgent need to identify the various higher plants and animal species found in this sub-county. In the past, plants and animals were abundant in the area and currently some species are rare possibly due to destruction of their habitats by human activities. However, there is no known study that has focused on identifying the terrestrial plants and animals in the division. The study focused on Matayos division where biodiversity conservation issues have not been adequately addressed. Cross-sectional descriptive research design was used. A minimum sample size of 384 household heads was taken out of a study population of 56,186. Matayos division was stratified according to locations and then households selected through simple random sampling for questionnaire administration. Purposive sampling was used to get Key Informants such as village elders, chiefs and Sub chiefs. Primary data were collected through questionnaire administration, key informant interview, Focus Group Discussion, Field Observation and Photography. The results indicated that the division is endowed with variety of terrestrial plants and animal species which should be well protected. There is need for creating communities’ awareness on the various activities carried out and their effects on terrestrial biodiversity conservation so as to ensure conservation of the available species. Establishment of protected areas in the division to conserve these valuable species could benefit the community and the Busia County at large.

Key words: Terrestrial biodiversity, higher plants, higher animals, species diversity

I. INTRODUCTION

Species diversity in the world is unevenly distributed; the highest concentrations are in tropical ecosystems, which are in turn seriously threatened by habitat destruction-the most prominent driver of biodiversity loss (Luc and Emmanuel, 2003). The world contains about 25,000 species of plants but 8% of them may get extinct before 2025 (Kearns, 2010).

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