Several species of grasses in Kenya could become extinct if proper environmental conservation is not implemented, a Kenyan entomologist and evolutionary biologist Professor Dino J. Martins has warned.
Prof Martins, who also is an Executive Director at Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia County, told the media in Nanyuki town during the official launch of his book, “Grasses of East Africa”, that Kenya has hundreds of grasses species whose value Kenyans were yet to appreciate hence they are unknowingly contributing to extinction.
“Some grasses are being cultivated in other countries as a crop, like in Brazil and US of which they originated from Kenya. They are worth millions of dollars and actually some species are disappearing in Kenya,” said the entomologist.
“Kenyans have not yet figured out how valuable they (grasses) are and we really need to understand and appreciate our grasses since they are beautiful and we could not survive without them,” Prof Martins added.
The professor further said Kenya is dependent on grass species in different sectors of tourism, food, and wildlife industries.
“Today I am very humbled and honoured to be able to share the discoveries of different things about grasses and their natural history and get people excited about plants that I know they do not pay a lot of attention to,” said Prof Martins.
He revealed that Laikipia County has hundreds of grass species that needed to be protected in bid to end perennial pasture conflicts.
Meanwhile, Prof. Martins’ book, “Grasses of East Africa” describes 100 species of common grasses found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The book, written by Prof. Martins after researching for the last 20 years, explains grassland conservation and management, economic significance of grasses in different areas of livestock diet, cereal crops and commercial seeds production among others.
The Prof doubles up as a research scholar and Lecturer in Ecology at Princeton University in New Jersey.
By Muturi Mwangi
