Publication Date:
2021-05-19
Description:
The Saiwa wetlands are located in the Trans-Nzoia District in the Western part of Kenya. Part of these wetlands form Saiwa National Park (SNP), which is the smallest park in Kenya, with an area of 3.1 km2. The wetlands host important biodiversity, but are threatened by intensive agriculture carried out in the catchment area. Threats include inputs of agricultural chemicals transported by runoff from the adjoining farms, and encroachment by farmers neighbouring the wetlands. The major impacts of these changes include the erosion of the banks of the two rivers (Sinyerere and Kapenguria) that feed into the wetlands, and the succession of the native Typha vegetation by elephant grass. WWF - WorldWide Fund for Nature initiated the Community Based Wetlands Conservation Project to work on mitigating these problems in the Saiwa wetlands. The project used a combination of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), ecological management principles, and economic tools to help promote a sustainable land use system for the Saiwa wetlands. A soil conservation scheme was implemented in Kipsoen. With technical support and training, the community elected a Catchment Committee, responsible for advising and ensuring progress on the soil conservation schemes. The aim of the scheme is to benefit both the people – through alternative land use practises – and biodiversity, by reducing chemical loading of the wetlands, thus improving habitat. This paper examines the main issues in the resolution of resource use conflicts, and the management of the wetlands. The case of the Saiwa wetlands points to a win-win comanagement scenario, where both people and nature benefit.
Description:
Published
Keywords:
Wetlands
;
Land use
;
Biodiversity
;
Agriculture
Repository Name:
AquaDocs
Type:
Book Section
,
Not Known
Format:
pp.97-100
