Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of 21st century. In its climate change program, ACC is taking on the challenge of conserving the biodiversity of the Kenya-Tanzania borderlands in the face of climatic change and land fragmentation. The project which brings together scientists and conservationists is mapping the distribution of animals, plants and human livelihoods and modelling their vulnerability to climate and land use change and through collaborative approach recommend mitigating and adaptation strategy. The 60,000 square kilometer region stretching across the Great Rift Valley from Serengeti-Maasai Mara in the west to Tsavo and Mkomazi in the east hosts the one of the richest mammal and bird assemblages on earth. The borderlands account for 80% of the large mammals, 50% of the vertebrates and 25% of the vascular plants found in Kenya and Tanzania. The region also has many regional endemic species and threatened animals and plants. The diverse landscape spans 14 world-renowned parks, attracts over 1.5 million visitors a year and generates half-billion-dollars in revenues for the two African nations. The borderlands are also home to the Maasai and other indigenous peoples whose lifestyle and hardy livestock help them survive harsh droughts and compete with wildlife.

The climate scenarios developed and the tested tools are now being refined and applied on a broader national scale to assess and visualize biodiversity vulnerability of the Kenya flora and Fauna to climate change through a USAID Servir-Africa initiative grant. The project that brings together National Institutions in Kenya and Tanzania, is studying the threat of climate change and land fragmentation and experts from Missouri Botanical Garden, University of York, the University of California in San Diego. ACC hosted a successful workshop on February 25th to present the results of the pilot study