It is a common belief that protected areas across the globe still harbour incipient species confined to pristine natural areas. But is this perspective valid for all biological species that occur in nature? Are agricultural zones adjacent protected areas of any value for the conservation of fauna inside the protected areas?
The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) is the largest coastal forest in eastern Africa. Big as it is an island amid agricultural and human settlement areas. Numerous research studies on bird, plant, herpes, invertebrate and mammal species happen in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest to estimate their population, distribution and conservation status.
The adjacent agricultural areas have, however, drawn little scientific research interest. Nothing inside these changing landscapes seems to draw attention to conservation efforts. In 2013, Simon Musila set out to answer the question; between the interior of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and the adjacent agricultural, which has more bat species? Between 2014-2016, Musila camped at Arabuko, conducting bat surveys in and outside the forest. What he found out from this study was surprising. In this talk, Musila shares some of his fascinating findings.