I got interested in conservation biology during my undergraduate studies. At the time I got an opportunity to interact with students, lecturers and researchers across the globe. In particular I interacted with students and researchers from the Global North who undertook biodiversity monitoring projects in Kenya. A funny question kept popping up in my mind “Is there no Biodiversity in the Global North”.  I was afraid that my country might also lose its biodiversity. And so, during my undergraduate studies I undertook my first research, to study the ecology of an endemic bird species in Kakamega forest, the Blue headed Bee eater. I was excited at the end of the study to find out that the birds were breeding and had young ones, a sign of population growth. Still worried about biodiversity, I undertook another project in Kakamega forest. This time round I wanted to find out the effects of forest disturbance on butterfly diversity. Luckily the diversity was high, forest specialists were present though in lower numbers. As I continued with my postgraduate studies, I was shocked when I heard that stingless bees were responsible for spreading banana diseases. All through I knew bees as pollinators and makers of honey. Together with experts from Germany, where I resided during my research work, I undertook a study on Ecology of stingless bees and their possible role in the spread of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt in Uganda, the epicenter of the disease. I was able to determine the foraging range for stingless bees feeding on different sugar concentrations, including in banana nectar. Besides I described nesting biology of different stingless bees. From the nest ecology, it was possible to show that a bee nest could not have been the source or the multiplication site of the Xanthomonas bacteria. It was such a relieve to know that the bees were after all not the bad ones. This biodiversity question seems so stuck in my mind that, I have further continued to find out the status of biodiversity wherever I go. While residing in the Central part of Kenya, I undertook to study Integrated community conservation of biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems. I was happy to find out that there is considerable amount of biodiversity in our agricultural ecosystem that need to be protected. Recently I was fascinated by a study in Europe which showed that urban green spaces are important sanctuaries for pollinators and biodiversity. With colleagues from Northumbria University in the UK, I undertook a study in Urban greens spaces in Nyeri County where my university is situated. Sure, enough there was considerable pollinator diversity in the green spaces, though one could have assumed they were devoid of pollinators.

Interactions with colleagues in different countries in Africa, Europe, America and others triggered the biodiversity question in my mind. Today biodiversity conservation has become my specialization with over 15 years’ experience. I look forward to nature-based innovations to improve human life and initiatives which enhance resilience and diversify community livelihoods as they adapt and mitigate against climate change. To this end I work with local communities promoting beekeeping, fish farming, multipurpose tree growing, among others.  I continue to work in different landscapes ranging from urban, agroecosystems, savannas, forests, among others.

Nderitu J., Kamiri H. and Namu F. (2022). Assessment Of Soil Carbon and Ph Under Forest Stands and Adjacent Farmlands in a Micro-Tropical Forest In Machakos County, Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment Vol. 14(3) September, 2022 ISBN: 2141 – 1778

Namu F.N. and Wittman D. (2016). An African Stingless bee Plebeina hildebrandti Friese Nest Size and Design (Apidae, Meliponini).  Afr. J. Ecol., 55, 111–114

Namu F.N. and Wittman D. (2014). Are stingless bees the primary vector in spread of banana Xanthomonas wilt in Central Uganda? International Journal of Ecology and Ecosolution Vol. 1(2), pp. 52-60

Namu F.N. and Kirika M.J. (2013). Community Awareness of Indeginous and Drought Resistant Crops &Trees on the Eastern Side of Mt. Kenya Forest: an Adaption Strategy to Climate Change Land Use and Nature Conservation. Proceedings of the 2^nd International Workshop of the Quality Network Biodiversity in Sub-Sahara Africa 2012, ISSN 0947 – 0360, Berlin, Germany

 Namu F.N., Githaiga J. M., Kioko E. N., Ndegwa P. N. and Häuser C. L. (2008). Butterfly species composition and abundance in an old, middle-aged, and young secondary forests, in: Kühne L. (Ed.), Butterflies and moth diversity of the Kakamega forest (Kenya), Brandenburgische Universitätsdruckerei und Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Germany, pp 47-61

Namu F.N., Githaiga J. M., Kioko E. N., Ndegwa P. N., Häuser C. L. and Kühn L. (2007). The butterfly, Hypolimnas salmacis magnifica (Drury, 1773) in Kakamega Forest National Reserve (KFNR) Kenya. Metamorphosis Vol. 18, no. 4, pp142-143

Namu F. N and Wittmann D. (2007). Banana Bacterial Wilt in East Africa: Are stingless bees’ vectors of Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum. Apidologie Vol.38

Namu F.N. and Wittmann D.(2007). Nest architecture in the stingless bees (Plebeina hildebradti) inhabiting termite mounds in Uganda. Apidologie Vol.38

Namu F.N. and Wittmann D. (2007). Nest architecture of Hypotrigona gribodoi Magretti (Hymenoptera-Meliponini) nesting in mud walls and tree cavities in Central Uganda. In: Kirchner W. H. (editor) The Individual and the Group in Insect Societies. Proceedings of the 20th. Meeting of the German-speaking Section of the International Union for the study of Social Insects. Bochum Germany

Namu F.N. (2004). Effects of forest disturbance on butterfly diversity in Kakamega Forest Nature Reserve Kenya. In: Huber, B.A (ed): 5^th International Symposium on Tropical Biology- Africa Biodiversity:Molecules, Organisms Ecosystems. Bonn; P.106

Haüser C., Kühne L., Njeri F. and Holstein J. (2003). Lepidoptera as indicators of human impact of tropical rainforest ecosystems in Eastern Africa. In: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)and German Aerospace Center Project Management (DLR-PT) (eds). Sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity. A challenge for society. International Symposium, 1-4 Dec.2003, Berlin. Symposium Report, Part A. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, projectträger des BMBF (DLR-PT), Bonn:pp 110-111

Kirika J.M. and Namu F.N. (2008-2011). To enhance integrated community conservation of biodiversity in agro-ecosystems adjacent to the eastern side of Mount Kenya forest, Kenya. Project report. In: http://www.rufford.org/rsg