Tag: AfriEvolve

Bird Ringing Takes Flight at Lake Elmenteita

Posted on by Christine Mwende

By Aloise Garvey

Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp launched an exciting new bird ringing project in December 2024, marking a significant step in sustainable tourism and avian conservation in Kenya’s Rift Valley. The three-week pilot programme, conducted with Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museums of Kenya and Nature Kenya, successfully ringed 129 birds despite challenging conditions.

Lake Elmenteita lies along a critical flyway for migratory birds travelling between Europe and Africa. The camp has committed to annual ringing sessions to track these remarkable journeys and contribute valuable data to international conservation efforts.

This inaugural season presented unique challenges as the lake reached its highest water levels in years, rendering much of the shoreline inaccessible. Nevertheless, the team captured an impressive diversity of species, with Marsh Sandpipers and Ruffs dominating the catches.

Among the highlights were several notable birds: the elusive Greater Painted Snipe, a rare Corn Crake, a Lesser Flamingo, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, River Warbler and Common Nightingale. The nets also captured Kittlitz’s Plovers, various sandpiper species, Willow Warblers, Barn Swallows, Spotted Thick-knees and Isabelline Wheatears, testament to the lake’s rich bird diversity. All birds were released safely after measuring and ringing.

Building on this successful pilot, the project will run annually each November for two weeks. Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp invites bird ringers and enthusiasts to join future sessions.

For more information or to participate, contact Aloise Garvey at aloisegarvey@gmail.com, Naturalist at Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp.

Winged Scientists: What Dragonflies Reveal About Our Water

Posted on by Christine Mwende

By Makena Murithi

Forget complex chemical tests. The most telling sign of a healthy freshwater ecosystem might be the iridescent flash of a dragonfly’s wing. There’s a familiar magic to a summer’s day by a pond, punctuated by the insect’s darting flight. Like a living jewel, a dragonfly hovers with prehistoric grace. But what if this beautiful acrobat is actually a tiny, winged scientist on a continuous monitoring mission? This is the power of a bioindicator: a species whose presence, absence, or abundance tells a story about the health of its habitat.

Dragonflies are among nature’s most eloquent messengers for freshwater health because they spend most of their lives not in the air, but as underwater nymphs. Breathing through gills, they are intimately connected to their aquatic environment, absorbing its conditions directly. This long juvenile stage, which can last for years, makes them highly vulnerable to changes. They are sensitive organisms, threatened by pollutants, silt that clogs their gills, and low oxygen levels. 

Different species have different tolerances, creating a natural indicator scale: a diverse population signals a clean, well-oxygenated habitat, whilst only a few pollution-tolerant species suggest a system under stress. Their complete absence is a major red flag.

This natural surveillance benefits us directly, as both nymphs and adults are voracious predators of mosquitoes and other pests.

Telling Aquatic Stories

Whilst the science is global, its application is powerfully local. Kenya is a hotspot for Odonata diversity, home to a stunning array of dragonflies and damselflies. The National Museums of Kenya Invertebrate Zoology collection acts as a vital ‘library of life,’ preserving specimens essential for identification and research.

By learning to recognise a few key species, we can read the stories written on the water. The presence of the striking Blue Basker (Urothemis edwardsii), a sentinel of health, indicates permanent, clean water. In contrast, the dominance of the beautiful but tolerant Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) can signal a disturbed habitat. The majestic Blue Emperor (Anax imperator), a top predator, only patrols waters with a robust food web.

Join the Mission

You don’t need a lab coat to participate. Dragonflies are ideal for citizen science: they are active by day, conspicuous, and with apps like iNaturalist, it’s easier than ever to identify them. By simply visiting a local water source, observing the diversity of species, and logging your findings, you contribute valuable data to real scientific projects. Your observations become part of a crowd-sourced tool used by institutions like the National Museums of Kenya to track the health of our precious freshwater ecosystems.

Ultimately, protecting dragonflies means protecting the water we all depend on. So, the next time you see one skimming the surface, see it as more than a jewel. See it as a guardian and a scientist. Its silent flight is a living report card on the health of our most vital resource.

Visit the National Museums of Kenya to explore our incredible collections and learn more, or join a local wetland clean-up event to help ensure these winged scientists have a healthy home for generations to come.

Youth taking lead in community-based adaptation to climate change in Yala

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Emily Mateche

As the world reels from droughts, floods, heat waves and wildfires, the global focus is shifting towards green agricultural practices to cope with the effects of climate change. Climate-smart agriculture is emerging as one of the sustainable farming alternatives. And farming, long regarded as a preserve of the middle-aged and elderly, is gaining popularity among youth as a livelihood option for communities residing adjacent to Yala Swamp, Kenya’s largest freshwater wetland.

In Siaya County, two youth groups supported by Nature Kenya – under the AfriEvolve project – are charting the path towards sustainable farming through climate-smart agriculture and other nature-based livelihood activities.

At Kanyibok village, near the shores of Lake Victoria, lies a green vegetable farm belonging to the 30-member Kanyibok Youth Group. Black nightshade (managu), amaranth (terere), collard greens (sukuma wiki) and other vegetables cover the approximately 0.2-acre plot, which also serves as a climate-smart agriculture demonstration farm.

“Our farm is small but the harvest is good. Climate-smart agriculture has enabled us to transform our small piece of land into a productive vegetable growing area using minimal resources,” says Lilian Akatcha, a member of the group.

 

The youth group’s climate-smart venture has seen them secure tenders to supply vegetables to secondary schools in the area. In addition to schools, the group also supplies their produce to markets nearby.

Through the demonstration farm, the group is educating local farmers on various farming techniques such as application of organic manure, soil and water conservation measures, crop rotation and growing high-value, fast-maturing and drought-resistant crops. To reduce dependence on rain for farming, the group has installed a solar-powered irrigation kit.

“Using irrigation, we are able to grow vegetables all year round. This means we can supply these vegetables even during the dry season,” adds Lilian.

To stay updated and informed, the youth farmers have embraced mobile technology. Using mobile apps, they can get area-specific weather information and advisories from the County Directorate of Meteorology and expert advice from the County Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. This information helps them make sound farming decisions like what crops to plant, when to plant, when to harvest, when to stock and how best to control pests and diseases. The use of mobile phone technology is proving useful not only for accessing information but also for marketing and sharing experiences through community social media forums.

In Yimbo, one of the driest regions in Siaya County, another group – Wambasa Youth Group – is also changing the fortunes of local youth through climate-smart agriculture and beekeeping. Group members grow vegetables and cereals on their farms. The group also has an apiary with over 200 hives.

“We hardly look for a market for our honey. Our honey is sold out by the time we harvest,” says Robert Ouko, a group member.

Apart from crop farming and beekeeping, the youth group is also into fish farming and chicken rearing.

This new crop of youthful farmers is a source of inspiration to local communities in Siaya who have, in the past few years, seen their farming fortunes dwindle due to the adverse effects of climate change. With climate-smart agriculture, communities are now better prepared to deal with the uncertainties of climate variability.

The wetlands of Kenya

Posted on by John Mwacharo

The early morning’s sun rays gleam against the shiny mangrove leaves along the shores of Sabaki River Mouth, where the Athi-Galana- Sabaki River pours into the Indian Ocean. For nature lovers, Sabaki River Mouth is a haven of biodiversity. But for private developers who have lately been eyeing this ecologically sensitive area, it is a vast wasteland. 

On February 2, we mark World Wetlands Day, a day to appreciate the importance of wetlands and advocate for their conservation. Many wetlands in Kenya, including the Sabaki River Mouth, face increasing pressure from human activity. The majority of wetlands lack formal protection, except for the few that fall in protected areas. With the current lack of institutional management and formal protection, these wetlands are at the mercy of developers and potential loss of these delicate ecosystems and the invaluable ecological services they provide. 

Wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems on earth. They filter water, store carbon, regulate floods and control soil erosion. They provide water, food, pasture and raw materials for people and their livestock. From the Yala Swamp in western Kenya to Lake Ol’ Bolossat in Central Kenya and the seasonal wetlands of Dakatcha Woodlands in Kilifi, these habitats host many bird, fish, mammal, plant, reptile, amphibian, crustacean and insect species – some of them found nowhere else. 

Encroachment, land use change, pollution and habitat destruction top the list of threats wetlands in Kenya face. The fact that many of these wetlands lie on private land further complicates their conservation. A lack of awareness of their importance has seen the conversion of wetlands on private land to farmlands and real estate developments. Those on community land have not been spared from destruction. Wetlands, especially seasonal wetlands, are not usually recognized in land allocation, and are not set aside for community use or conservation. 

Yala Swamp is Kenya’s largest freshwater wetland. The swamp directly supports many communities with water, fish, firewood and raw materials. Yala Swamp also plays a critical ecological role in filtering water flowing into Lake Victoria. Currently, Yala Swamp is facing imminent destruction following a decision by the National Land Commission (NLC) to allocate 6,763.74 ha of the wetland to Lake Agro Kenya Limited for commercial farming. Local communities and conservation stakeholders have voiced outrage over the controversial allocation by NLC. 

The recently documented fish deaths in Lake Victoria were attributed to pollution. Communities around the lake depend on fishing for livelihoods. Chemical and fertilizer load from farmlands and reduced acreage of papyrus to filters these chemicals, has enhanced the spread of the invasive water hyacinth, negatively impacting fishing. 

In Lake Nakuru, unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation and uncontrolled abstraction of water in the catchment, and pollution and encroachment by human settlements from the city, threaten the wetland’s fragile ecosystem – once known as the greatest ornithological spectacle on Earth. 

All is not gloom, though. Nature Kenya is working with local communities, county governments and other stakeholders to conserve wetlands in the country. At the Tana River Delta, a land use plan was collaboratively developed to guide the management of land and natural resources for

various uses, including conservation. Nature Kenya is promoting the Indigenous and Community Conservation Areas (ICCAs) approach at the Delta. The ICCAs are biodiversity-rich conservancies based on traditional, cultural, and multiple land use under the management of local communities. 

A land use plan for Yala Delta (which includes the Swamp) has also been developed. The land use plan seeks to put the use, development, management and conservation of Yala Swamp on a sustainable footing.

Nature Kenya works with local conservation groups that serve as Site Support Groups (SSGs) for Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), which include wetlands. The community groups are engaged in site restoration, monitoring, advocacy, environmental education and awareness creation, and promotion of sustainable livelihood activities. The SSGs are active in Yala Swamp, Tana River Delta, Lake Bogoria, Lake Naivasha, Lake Ol’ Bolossat, Mida Creek, Lake Elmenteita, Sabaki River Mouth and Dunga Swamp.

Government recognition of water, biodiversity and tourism as valid land uses would go a long way in saving these critical resources.

 

Help us save Yala Swamp, say local communities

Posted on by John Mwacharo

Along the Kombo dyke that separates Lake Kanyaboli and the vast Yala Swamp in Misori, Siaya County, clumps of papyrus reeds dance to the gentle morning wind. Fishermen in traditional wooden canoes paddle through the calm lake waters, occasionally making stops to inspect their traps. Pied Kingfishers lay in wait to catch some fish. Many other birds, including Papyrus and Black-headed Gonoleks, forage through the papyrus. The place is a birder’s paradise. Local communities use papyrus reeds from the wetland to make baskets, mats and other products.

“As a weaver, my life revolves around Yala Swamp. It is here that I get the raw materials for my weaving. Together with other weavers, we make and sell products to sustain our livelihoods,” Mildred Apiyo, a resident of Bunyala says.

All this, however, hangs in the balance as Yala Swamp, the country’s largest freshwater wetland, faces another major treat: the conversion of the swamp to a sugarcane plantation.

 “It is like everyone wants a piece of the swamp land. Private developers are scrambling for it. Communities who have lived here long have a right over it. The scramble for this resource is not anything that can be ignored,” Ibrahim Ogolla says.

For now, local communities are not so much concerned by the rampant fires to reclaim the edges of the swamp. The controversial allocation of 6,763.74 ha (16,713.57 acres) of the wetland by the National Land Commission (NLC) to a private investor – Lake Agro Kenya Ltd – is what has them worried.

“The move by the National Land Commission goes against our land rights. We depend on Yala Swamp for food, water, pasture, fuelwood and medicinal herbs. Sadly, our voices seem not to count,” says Ayiro Lwala, chairman of Yala Ecosystem Site Support Group (YESSG).

Yala Ecosystem Site Support Group is a community umbrella body working with Nature Kenya to conserve the Yala Swamp.  The group also promotes sustainable livelihood initiatives to ease overdependence on the wetland for sustenance. Climate-smart agriculture, fish and poultry farming, beekeeping, basket weaving and ecotourism are some of the income-generating activities YESSG is promoting with Nature Kenya’s assistance.

“We are working closely with Nature Kenya to reduce pressure on Yala Swamp for natural resources by supporting nature-based enterprises. The decision by NLC to allocate large portions of the swamp to a private investor undermines our conservation efforts. The focus should be on protecting the swamp, not destroying it,” says Edwin Onyango, a member of YESSG based in Bunyala, Busia County.

To the local communities, the conversion of the swamp to a sugarcane plantation will put many of their livelihoods at risk, compromise their subsistence food production systems, and expose them to abject poverty.

Yala Swamp is one of Kenya’s important wetland ecosystems. The swamp is internationally recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). It provides numerous essential environmental services and vital resources for over 250,000 people who live around it.

Besides being home to the endangered Sitatunga antelope and many papyrus-dependent birds, Yala Swamp is a refuge for cichlid fish that have become extinct in Lake Victoria.

YESSG and many other community organizations object to the Yala Swamp allocation by NLC and are asking the government to stop it.

“Yala communities will not accept to be impoverished at the expense of some rich greedy people. We will continue to fight for Yala Swamp’s conservation for the benefit of everyone,” concludes Thomas Achando, chairman of the Yala Swamp Indigenous and Community Conservation Areas.