Future scenarios of infrastructure-driven land use and social-ecological transformations| Dr J Thorn

The DCP, through its Kenyan partners the African Conservation Centre (ACC) and the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) – University of Nairobi, conducted a series of webinars led by the researchers within the partnership, who shared their insights from ongoing work.

In this session, Dr. Jessica Thorn (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of York, UK) speaks about 'future scenarios of infrastructure-driven land use and social-ecological transformations'. She explores how investments in Africa's infrastructure are occurring very rapidly, and presents scenario planning as a tool that can consider present and past drivers, to forecast future challenges and get ahead of the problem before it arises.

Moderator: Prof. Rob Marchant
Professor of Tropical Ecosystems, York Institute of Tropical Ecosystems,
University of York, UK

Panelists:
Dr. David Obura (Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa)
Ms. Nkamunu Patita (Programme Coordinator, The Wildlife Foundation)
Dr. Caroline A. Ouko (Head Policy and Outreach, CETRAD)

In East Africa today, there is a visible growth in infrastructure development. Some of these projects are conceived as single purpose, utilitarian infrastructure projects, but increasingly, these individual projects are being aggregated as ‘development corridors’. These corridors criss-cross through
nations and provide platforms for delivering major economic and social benefits. The sustainability of these long-term investments can be greatly improved through effective social and environmental safeguards, ensuring benefits to all citizens, while conserving the unique biodiversity of East Africa.

The Development Corridors Partnership (DCP), established in 2017, is a project led by UNEP-WCMC that brings together partners from Kenya, Tanzania, China, and the UK, to conduct research and build capacity to improve development corridor decision-making, planning and management.