Kenya is internationally recognized for its exceptional biological diversity, including savannas, montane forests, coastal and marine ecosystems, freshwater systems, drylands and rangelands. Biodiversity supports tourism, agriculture, water security, livelihoods, cultural values and ecosystem resilience, yet these benefits are increasingly exposed to habitat conversion, fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, climate change and human–wildlife conflict. This article reviews the major dimensions of biodiversity conservation in Kenya and examines the relationship between ecological integrity, livelihoods and governance. Drawing on national biodiversity strategies, government and conservation reports, international assessments and peer-reviewed literature, the review synthesizes evidence on forest and montane ecosystems, rangelands and wildlife corridors, freshwater and coastal systems, community-based conservation, ecosystem services, protected-area management and biodiversity governance. Kenya's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2019–2030 provides a policy framework for conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing, while protected areas and community conservancies provide complementary approaches to landscape-scale management (Republic of Kenya, 2019). The review argues that biodiversity policy should increasingly move from an isolated protected-area model toward connected, multi-use landscapes in which restoration, ecological connectivity, community rights, sustainable tourism, climate adaptation and biodiversity monitoring are jointly planned. Particular attention is required for biodiversity-rich forests, coastal ecosystems, drylands and wildlife dispersal areas where ecological and socioeconomic pressures intersect. The paper proposes a strategic framework organized around five priorities: protecting remaining intact habitats, restoring degraded ecosystems, securing ecological connectivity, strengthening inclusive governance and financing, and improving biodiversity information for adaptive management. The analysis concludes that Kenya's biodiversity agenda is inseparable from sustainable development and that long-term conservation outcomes depend on institutional coordination and meaningful participation and benefit-sharing with communities living alongside biodiversity.
Keywords:Kenya; conservation; wildlife; forests; rangelands; ecosystem services; protected areas; community conservation; ecological connectivity; restoration; climate change