Analysis of environmental security in East Africa

Abstract

Environmental security is achieved as a result of proper management of the natural resources which ensures that the communities are less vulnerable. This is achieved by ensuring that there is proper environmental management by states, the importance of addressing the socioeconomic factors of the communities and cooperation at all levels of research, policy, implementation and analysis. Environmental degradation, inequitable access to natural resources and the transboundary movement of hazardous materials can lead to conflict and pose a risk to national security and human security. Trans-boundary pollution for instance, can disrupt relations between neighboring states which share a common resource base. The study investigated the impact of environmental degradation on the environmental insecurity, the socio-economic factors that lead to environmental degradation, the strategies to manage the natural resources sustainably for posterity. The study focused on how best the states within the East Africa Community can implement their environmental strategies and also co-manage the joint natural resources sustainably. There is a need to identify useful regionally coordinated approaches, regional sharing of experiences and responsibilities, undertaking regional research efforts when the critical mass is too limited nationally, for the natural resources that are shared like waters, watersheds, forest resources and/or when there are positive returns to scale by sharing of information, investment costs, research and development.