In the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, Kenya’s grassy savannas, Rift Valley lakes, and mountain highlands provide habitats for an astounding diversity of flora and fauna including the Big Five – lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos. The region is also home to pastoralist tribal communities such as the Maasai, and its famed national parks attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Kenya’s biodiversity is under threat from ecosystem fragmentation and human development, and shifting human demographics, land-use designations, and natural resource availability are putting a strain on traditional livelihoods. Our research here focuses on one of Earth’s most essential natural resources – water – as we examine the impacts of these threats and explore conservation approaches to water management that will benefit humans and wildlife alike.