NAIROBI - Five new research projects will advance the cause of wildlife protection in Kenya, international donors announced. The $1.5 million projects are intended to improve capacity in ecosystem management, law enforcement, and prosecution, to promote wildlife conservation and combat wildlife poaching and trafficking to preserve Kenya's natural biodiversity.

During his recent trip to Kenya, President Obama reaffirmed U.S. dedication to its partnership with Kenya “in the fight against poachers and traffickers that threaten Kenya’s world-famous wildlife.”  Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) awards are part of the USAID/Kenya and East Africa efforts to reduce risks to the rich East African wildlife heritage. Through the PEER awards, American and Kenyan scientists will work together to develop innovative responses to wildlife-management challenges.

USAID/Kenya and East Africa and U.S. Global Development Lab officials said PEER projects funds scientists and engineers in developing countries who partner with U.S. government-funded researchers to address global development challenges. These latest PEER awards will support Kenya researchers working at the Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museum of Kenya, and the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Minnesota.

The results of this competitive awards program are meant to encourage Kenyan policies and programs to reduce wildlife poaching and trafficking. Research will cover: using molecular genetic tools to enhance elephant conservation, investigating transmission of foot-and-mouth disease in African buffalos, establishing transboundary surveillance methods using vertebrate molecular barcodes, using DNA analysis to combat the illegal trade of plants, and barcoding DNA to combat wildlife crime. Each of these research areas will strengthen ability of the institutions responsible for managing and protecting wildlife in East Africa.

“Applied research is a crucial component of the Mission’s approach to combatting wildlife trafficking,” USAID/Kenya and East Africa Environment Office Chief Juniper Neill, said.  This approach also includes landscape-level protection and enforcement, policy reform, and intergovernmental partnerships that support institution building.

The new projects are:

“Enhancing Elephant Conservation & Protection in East Africa with Molecular Genetic Tools”

            Principal Investigator: Moses Otiende, Kenya Wildlife Service,

            U.S. Government Partner: Samuel Wasser and David Schindel, Smithsonian Institution;

“DNA Barcoding to Combat Wildlife Crime”

            Principal Investigator: Henry Ndithia, National Museums of Kenya,

            U.S. Government Partner: David Schindel, Smithsonian Institute;

“Enhancing Conservation of African Buffalo & Rangeland Habitat through Molecular Investigations of Foot-and-Mouth Disease at the Wildlife-livestock Interface”

            Principal Investigator: Frances Gakuya, Kenya Wildlife Service,

            U.S. Government Partner: Andres Perez, University of Minnesota;

“End of the Road for Illegal Bushmeat Trade in East Africa: Establishing Transboundary Surveillance by High Resolution Melting Analysis of Vertebrate Molecular Barcodes”

            Principal Investigator: Lillian Wambua, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology,

            U.S. Government Partner: Scott Miller, Smithsonian Institution;

“Use of DNA Technology in Combating Illegal Trade and Promoting Conservation & Sustainable Use of Plants in Kenya and Tanzania”

            Principal Investigator: Beatrice Khayota, National Museums of Kenya,

            U.S. Government Partner: David Schindel, Smithsonian Institution.

Since its launch in 2011, PEER has supported more than 160 projects in more than 40 countries, a total investment of about $28 million. The fifth call for PEER proposals is expected to be announced in early October 2015.