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Policy · Evidence · Guidance · Consultation

Wildlife knowledge,
structured for decisions.

Policy frameworks, evidence briefs, regulatory guidance, strategic documents, and open consultations — WRTI's knowledge ecosystem for government, conservation, and research audiences.

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184
Policy documents
42
Evidence briefs
18
Regulatory guides
3
Open consultations
📚 Policy Library
💡 Evidence Briefs
⚖️ Regulatory Guidance
📑 Strategic Documents
💬 Consultations 3 Open
Policy Areas

Eight wildlife policy domains.

WRTI organises its policy knowledge base around the eight most critical domains in Kenya's wildlife governance ecosystem.

Policy Library

184 policy documents, structured for use.

Full policy library
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WRTI provides technical advisory services to government agencies and policymakers. Request a consultation with our policy team.
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All years 2023 2022 2021 Showing 6 documents
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Policy Framework Open Access
National Wildlife Conservation and Management Policy 2023: A framework for evidence-based wildlife governance in Kenya
Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife · Kenya Wildlife Service · WRTI (Joint Publication) · 2023
Comprehensive national policy framework establishing principles, priorities, and governance mechanisms for wildlife conservation in Kenya for the period 2023–2033. Integrates WRTI's census data, research findings, and biodiversity intelligence into a national governance structure aligned with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Key policy commitments
  • 30% of Kenya's terrestrial area under wildlife-compatible land use by 2030
  • National wildlife corridor protection through statutory gazettement of 14 priority corridors
  • Mandatory human-wildlife conflict compensation fund established and operationalised by 2025
  • Wildlife-based community enterprises to contribute 15% of county revenue in wildlife zones by 2030
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Strategic Plan Open Access
Kenya Wildlife Corridors Conservation Strategy 2022–2030: Protecting connectivity in fragmented landscapes
WRTI · Kenya Wildlife Service · 2022
Strategic framework identifying, prioritising, and providing management guidance for 24 wildlife corridors critical to the connectivity of Kenya's major protected areas and wildlife dispersal areas. Based on 10 years of WRTI GPS tracking data and habitat modelling.
Strategic priorities
  • 14 corridors identified as critical priority for immediate protection measures
  • Amboseli-Tsavo corridor designated as national conservation priority with 340km protection zone
  • Incentive framework for private landowners maintaining corridor habitat proposed
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Regulatory Guidance Open Access
Policy Guidelines on Wildlife Censuses in Kenya: Methodology standards, data quality, and reporting requirements 2022
WRTI · 2022 (3rd Edition)
Updated national methodology standards for wildlife census activities in Kenya, covering aerial survey protocols, distance sampling, mark-recapture, and camera trap methods. Sets mandatory reporting requirements for all census activities conducted under WRTI permit.
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Policy Framework Open Access New 2023
National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Framework: Standards, compensation, and coexistence strategies for Kenya 2023
Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife · WRTI · KWS · 2023
A comprehensive national framework for reducing, managing, and compensating human-wildlife conflict in Kenya. Establishes minimum standards for conflict reporting, compensation assessment, mitigation technology deployment, and community engagement.
Framework provisions
  • National HWC reporting system with 48-hour response requirements
  • Standardised compensation tariffs for crop damage, livestock loss, and human injury
  • Early warning system requirement in all wildlife-adjacent administrative units
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Policy & Guidelines Open Access
Data and Information Access and Sharing Policy for the Wildlife Sector in Kenya: Standards, rights, and responsibilities 2021
WRTI · Kenya Wildlife Service · 2021
National standards for wildlife data access, sharing, and use across government, research, and conservation sectors. Establishes open data defaults, restricted data categories, data sharing agreement templates, and mandatory data submission requirements.
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Strategic Plan Open Access
Kenya Black Rhinoceros Recovery Programme — Strategic Management Plan 2021–2031
KWS · WRTI · Save the Rhino International · 2021
Integrated 10-year strategic management plan for Kenya's black rhinoceros population, combining population management, anti-poaching, sanctuary expansion, and genetic management strategies to achieve recovery targets.
Recovery targets
  • Target population of 2,000 individuals by 2031 (from current 1,014)
  • Genetic management of all sanctuary populations under WRTI oversight
  • Expansion of rhino sanctuary network from 12 to 18 sites by 2025
Browse all 184 policy documents
Evidence Briefs

Research translated for decisions.

All 42 evidence briefs

WRTI's evidence briefs synthesise research findings into accessible, decision-ready documents for policymakers, government agencies, and conservation organisations. Each brief presents key findings, their policy implications, and recommended actions.

Species Protection
EB-2023-01
New

Wildlife corridor protection and elephant population recovery: 12 years of evidence from Kenya

A synthesis of WRTI's long-term elephant GPS tracking programme demonstrating the direct relationship between corridor availability and population growth in the Amboseli-Tsavo landscape.

Corridors protect are associated with 31% higher population growth rates — making statutory corridor protection the single highest-impact conservation intervention available.
Human-Wildlife Conflict
EB-2023-02
New

The cost of human-wildlife conflict in Kenya: economic evidence and the case for a national compensation fund

Economic analysis of crop loss, livestock depredation, and human injury from wildlife encounters across 18 counties, with benefit-cost analysis of a national compensation mechanism.

Annual losses from HWC estimated at KES 3.8 billion — a national compensation fund covering 80% of verified losses would cost KES 640 million, a 6:1 benefit-cost ratio.
Species Protection
EB-2023-03
New

Black rhinoceros recovery in Kenya: what 15 years of population monitoring tells us about the path to 2,000

Evidence review from WRTI's rhino monitoring programme analysing population growth rates, sanctuary performance, and the genetic management requirements for recovery to 2,000 individuals by 2031.

Kenya's black rhino population is growing at 8.2% per annum — the 2,000 target is achievable if sanctuary expansion and genetic management are maintained through 2031.
Habitat Conservation
EB-2022-04
2022

Ecosystem health in Kenya's savanna: biodiversity index findings and the governance response needed

Summary of WRTI's national biodiversity index assessment for savanna ecosystems, identifying the key drivers of the 2.1-point decline since 2021 and the priority governance responses.

Savanna biodiversity declined 2.1 points in two years — the primary driver is habitat fragmentation, and the highest-leverage response is corridor protection combined with livestock grazing management.
Wildlife Health
EB-2022-05
2022

Canine distemper virus in African wild dogs and lions: the biosafety case for mandatory domestic dog vaccination in wildlife interface zones

Epidemiological evidence from WRTI's carnivore health monitoring programme on CDV transmission from domestic dogs to wild carnivores, and the policy case for mandatory vaccination programmes.

CDV transmission from domestic dogs accounts for 23% of wild dog mortality in interface zones — mandatory vaccination within 10km of key carnivore habitat is the evidence-indicated intervention.
Climate Adaptation
EB-2022-06
2022

Wildlife vulnerability to drought in Kenya: evidence from the 2021–2022 drought and implications for climate adaptation planning

WRTI's drought monitoring data for the 2021–2022 East Africa drought event — population impacts, mortality data, and the conservation management responses that proved most effective.

The 2021–2022 drought caused an estimated 12% reduction in elephant calf survival and 18% reduction in wildebeest numbers — water point management was the most cost-effective drought response.
Regulatory Guidance

Standards and compliance guidance
for the wildlife sector.

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Wildlife Census Methodology and Standards
3 guidance documents · Last updated March 2022
WRTI's mandatory standards for all wildlife census and survey activities conducted in Kenya under research permit or institutional mandate. These standards apply to aerial surveys, ground transects, camera trap density estimation, and distance sampling methods.
📄 Policy Guidelines on Wildlife Censuses in Kenya (3rd Ed.) 2022 ↓ Download
📄 Aerial Survey Protocols — Distance Sampling Methodology 2021 ↓ Download
📄 Camera Trap Density Estimation — WRTI Technical Standard CT-2021 2021 ↓ Download
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Wildlife Data Sharing and Access Policy
4 guidance documents · Last updated November 2021
Data governance standards for all wildlife sector data in Kenya, covering data access categories, sharing agreements, open data obligations, and data submission requirements for research permit holders.
📄 Data and Information Access and Sharing Policy — Wildlife Sector Kenya 2021 ↓ Download
📄 Data Sharing Agreement Template — Standard 2022 ↓ Download
📄 Restricted Data Access Request Form 2022 ↓ Download
📄 Research Data Submission Requirements — Permit Holders 2021 ↓ Download
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Wildlife Health and Forensics Standards
3 guidance documents · Last updated 2021
Protocols for wildlife sample collection, storage, and forensic analysis under WRTI's genetics and forensics laboratory standards. Mandatory for all permit holders conducting invasive sampling.
📄 Wildlife Sample Collection Protocols — WRTI Laboratory Standards 2021 ↓ Download
📄 Wildlife Forensics — Chain of Custody Protocol 2020 ↓ Download
📄 Wildlife Disease Reporting Standards — Kenya One Health Framework 2021 ↓ Download
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GPS Telemetry and Remote Monitoring Standards
2 guidance documents · Last updated 2022
Technical standards for GPS collar deployment, programming, data management, and animal welfare considerations in wildlife telemetry research. Required reading for all GPS Tagging & Telemetry permit applicants.
📄 GPS Collar Deployment Standards — Animal Welfare and Data Requirements 2022 ↓ Download
📄 Telemetry Data Management and Submission Standards 2021 ↓ Download
Strategic Documents

WRTI's strategic and institutional framework.

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2022–2027 · Strategic Plan
WRTI Institutional Strategic Plan 2022–2027: Advancing wildlife intelligence for Kenya's conservation future
56 pages · English · Open access · Published January 2022
Download PDF
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2023 · Annual Report
WRTI Annual Report and Accounts 2022/23: Research, training, and institutional performance
88 pages · English · Open access · October 2023
Download PDF
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2022 · Annual Report
WRTI Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22
82 pages · English · Open access · October 2022
Download PDF
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2022 · National Framework
Kenya Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2030 (NBSAP): WRTI technical contribution and evidence base
WRTI Technical Input · 44 pages · 2022
Download PDF
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2023 · Training Strategy
WRTI Training and Capacity Development Strategy 2023–2028
38 pages · English · Open access · March 2023
Download PDF
Open Consultations

Contribute to wildlife policy.

WRTI conducts open public consultations on proposed policy frameworks, regulatory guidelines, and research priorities. All stakeholders — researchers, community organisations, government agencies, and members of the public — are invited to contribute.

Human-Wildlife Conflict
Open for responses
Reference:
CON-2024-01

Proposed Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Fund: Tariff structure and eligibility criteria — Public consultation 2024

WRTI and the Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife invite responses on the proposed tariff structure for the national human-wildlife conflict compensation fund established under the 2023 HWC Framework. Responses are sought from affected communities, county governments, conservation organisations, and researchers.

🗓 Response deadline: 31 March 2024 — 67 days remaining
📄Consultation document — Proposed tariff structure↓ Download
📄Response template↓ Download
📄Evidence brief: Economic basis for proposed tariffs↓ Download
Responses received so far142 responses
Wildlife Data Policy
Open for responses
Reference:
CON-2024-02

Proposed revision to the Wildlife Data and Information Sharing Policy: Open data expansion and access categories

WRTI proposes to expand open data access and revise the restricted data categories under its 2021 Data and Information Sharing Policy. This consultation seeks input from researchers, government agencies, conservation organisations, and data users on the proposed changes.

🗓 Response deadline: 15 April 2024 — 82 days remaining
📄Proposed policy revision — tracked changes↓ Download
📄Consultation questions↓ Download
Responses received so far74 responses
Census Methodology
Closed
Reference:
CON-2023-03

Proposed updates to wildlife census methodology standards: Camera trap integration and citizen science protocols

WRTI invited comment on proposed additions to the national wildlife census methodology standards, specifically regarding the integration of camera trap data and structured citizen science contributions into the national census programme.

🗓 Closed 30 November 2023 — 312 responses received
Consultation outcome
The updated Census Methodology Standards (4th Ed.) incorporating camera trap integration were published in January 2024. 89% of respondents supported the proposed additions. The citizen science protocol was referred for further pilot testing.
Research Priorities
Closed
Reference:
CON-2021-01

National Wildlife Research Agenda 2022–2032: Stakeholder consultation on priority research questions

WRTI's consultation on the research priority questions for the National Wildlife Research Agenda 2022–2032. This consultation involved 280 stakeholders across 6 facilitated workshops and an online consultation process.

🗓 Closed 31 August 2021 — 280 stakeholders engaged
Outcome
The National Wildlife Research Agenda 2022–2032 was published in January 2022, incorporating the outcomes of this consultation process.
Knowledge Impact

WRTI's knowledge in policy and practice.

184+
Policy documents in the library
Across 8 wildlife policy domains
42
Evidence briefs published
Research translated for decision-makers
28
Policy citations in national instruments
WRTI evidence in Kenya law and policy
4,800+
Policy document downloads last year
Government, research, and NGO users
Expert Policy Advisory

Does your agency need wildlife intelligence
for an upcoming policy decision?

WRTI's expert team provides technical policy advisory services to government agencies, legislative bodies, and conservation organisations. We can provide evidence briefings, dataset access, expert testimony, and commissioned policy analysis on request.

Request policy advisory Contact our policy team
policy@wrti.go.ke · +254 (0)20 600 4001
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Access the research behind the policy.

Every evidence brief links to the underlying WRTI research publications, datasets, and methodology documentation. Access 847 publications and 214 datasets in the Research Hub.

Browse research hub
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Respond to an open consultation.

WRTI currently has 3 open consultations — on the HWC compensation fund tariffs, data sharing policy revision, and draft biodiversity guidelines. Submissions close March–April 2024.

View open consultations
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Policy intelligence by email.

New evidence briefs, policy document releases, open consultations, and regulatory guidance updates — delivered to your inbox from WRTI's policy team.