Tag: community engagement

Local communities join push to list Yala Swamp as a Ramsar Site

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Vivian Wasike

Nestled between Lake Victoria and the winding Yala and Nzoia rivers, the Yala Swamp is a natural treasure of immense ecological and cultural importance. It is home to a rich variety of wildlife and provides essential resources for local communities. However, the swamp faces growing threats from agricultural expansion, land grabbing, mining pollution, and papyrus habitat destruction. To protect their vital wetland, local communities have now joined the push to have Yala Swamp listed as a Ramsar Site – a wetland of international importance. This global recognition would promote Yala Swamp’s conservation and ensure the sustainable use of its resources.

Located on the northeastern shore of Lake Victoria, Yala Swamp is the largest papyrus wetland in Kenya and is crucial to the lake’s survival. The swamp is an important carbon sink that contributes to global climate regulation. It filters the water of rivers flowing into the lake, trapping silt and agrochemicals.

For the local communities, Yala Swamp is more than just a wetland – it is a lifeline. Residents depend on it for clean water, fishing, papyrus for thatching, and irrigation during droughts. “The swamp plays a critical role in our lives,” says Ayiro Lwala, a resident of Yimbo. “It provides us with food, water, and materials for shelter.”

Unfortunately, the conversion of the swamp for agricultural use and other human activities has degraded large parts of it. In 2022, the National Land Commission approved the allocation of 6,764 ha of Yala Swamp to Lake Agro Ltd. to establish a sugarcane plantation. Local communities protested the controversial allocation and went to court to object to it.

The communities believe that the swamp’s designation as a Ramsar Site would provide a framework for its sustainable management, balancing conservation with their needs. It would also open doors to funding and technical support, enabling sustainable ventures like climate-smart agriculture, fish farming, eco-tourism and beekeeping to thrive. These nature-based enterprises have the potential to support conservation while improving livelihoods.

“With the right support, communities can play a key role in protecting Yala Swamp for future generations,” adds Ayiro.

Moreover, the Ramsar recognition is envisaged to elevate Yala Swamp’s global profile, fostering a sense of pride and responsibility among residents.

With support from Nature Kenya, local Site Support Groups (SSGs) in Bunyala, Yimbo, Upper Yala, and Kanyaboli are fronting efforts to secure Ramsar recognition for Yala Swamp. The groups have held awareness campaigns, capacity-building workshops, and community-led initiatives, which have been crucial in mobilizing public support. A notable milestone of their efforts has been the drafting of a “No Objection” letter by local communities, signalling a strong public backing for the Ramsar listing process.

“Our push to have Yala Swamp listed as a Ramsar site is more than just an environmental effort. It is a commitment to a future where nature and people thrive together,” notes David Omany, a community leader from the Upper Yala Site Support Group.

Yala Swamp is a vital refuge for a diverse range of wildlife, making it one of Kenya’s most significant ecosystems. It shelters two endangered Cichlid fish that are extinct in Lake Victoria and represents one of the few remaining habitats for the Sitatunga, a rare swamp-dwelling antelope. The wetland is also home to large flocks of waterbirds, visiting migratory species like the Barn Swallow, Sedge Warbler, and Osprey, as well as threatened papyrus specialist birds like the Papyrus Gonolek and Papyrus Yellow Warbler. It is recognised as both a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and an Important Bird Area (IBA). Without appropriate protection, however, this rich biodiversity remains at risk. Its designation as a Ramsar Site would provide the essential framework to safeguard its wildlife and ensure its future survival.

Tana Delta Birds, Communities and Conservation

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Justus M. Munywoki

At Lake Mbililo in Kenya’s Tana River Delta, birds of all shapes, sizes, and colours are out, filling the air with their calls.  Amid the symphony of bird calls, a trained community guide leads colleagues on a data collection mission. Their goal? To monitor the hundreds of bird species in the wetland, particularly waterbirds. This data collection exercise is part of the community-driven initiatives to safeguard the Tana Delta ecosystems that sustain biodiversity. Resident and migratory birds such as Grey-headed Kingfishers, Cattle Egrets, Gull-billed Terns and Common Greenshanks frequent the lake and other such wetlands to feed and breed, making the Delta an attractive destination for bird enthusiasts.

The expansive Tana River Delta, which spans more than 160,000 hectares along the country’s north-eastern coastline in Tana River and Lamu Counties, is a designated Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance). The Delta is also a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) with a diverse range of habitats that attract birds from all over the world, from riverine forests and flooded grasslands to mangroves, intertidal zones, and open beaches.

One of the most outstanding aspects of bird monitoring exercises, like Lake Mbililo’s, is the active participation of local communities. Conservationists work closely with residents to raise awareness about the importance of migratory birds and their habitats. This grassroots engagement promotes a sense of ownership and pride among local people, mobilizing them to protect their environment.

Bird monitoring in the Tana River Delta is not just counting birds. Birds serve as vital indicators of habitat conditions and the impacts of climate change. By observing trends in bird populations and distribution, conservationists can detect early signs of environmental stress, such as habitat degradation or shifting climate patterns, and act to address these challenges.

Birdwatching is a great hobby, and a good entry to environmental awareness. Local communities actively conduct bird counts and identify potential birdwatching areas. This engagement contributes to sustainability, as trained community monitors educate others, fostering a cycle of knowledge and environmental stewardship.

“Raising awareness about bird monitoring is critical in garnering local support to protect the Tana River Delta ecosystem. When communities are involved, conservation becomes a shared responsibility,” says Yona Makondeni from the Tana Delta Conservation Network, the Nature Kenya Site Support Group for the Delta.

The monitoring process is innovative yet simple. In the last waterbird count conducted in February 2024 in Tana, 2,220 individual birds were recorded using the mobile app eBird, which allowed participants to document every bird they saw or heard. They created a digital checklist, which was then uploaded to the app’s global database in real-time. This user-friendly approach has revolutionised bird monitoring at the Delta, making it accessible to both experts and community members.

KBA in Focus: Mida Creek, Whale Island and the Malindi-Watamu Coast

Posted on by John Mwacharo

At Kenya’s North Coast in Kilifi County lie three sites that form one Key Biodiversity Area (KBA): Mida Creek, Whale Island, and the Malindi-Watamu Coast. This KBA is part of the Malindi-Watamu-Arabuko-Sokoke UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is also part of the broader Malindi and Watamu Marine national parks and reserves, a protected area along the Indian Ocean coastline. The ecosystem is an important coastal wetland consisting of mangrove forests, mudflats, beaches, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, including coral outcrops such as Whale Island. It serves as a stopover for migratory birds along the Asian–East African Flyway that rely on the mudflats and exposed reefs as critical feeding grounds. It supports numerous bird species, including sea terns that regularly nest on Whale Island.

The complex ecological nature of the KBA makes it an outstanding site for coastal and marine wildlife, yet it is along the edges of a busy tourism area.  Marine National Parks and Reserve are important for conserving the fringing reef, the famous coral gardens within the lagoons, and the seagrass beds, with their diverse marine biodiversity. The reefs are popular for snorkelling, diving, and marine research. Mida Creek has important mangrove forests with a high diversity of species, including Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba. It is a key spawning ground for many fish species.

This remarkable KBA faces several threats, including coastal development, climate change, overfishing, pollution, and a lack of sufficient funds for research. A nuclear power plant has even been proposed next to this outstanding environmental site! Coastal development projects greatly affect the delicate ecosystems in the KBA, such as coral reefs and mangroves. Infrastructural development and tourism activities have been a leading cause of pollution. Mangroves have continuously been cut down for charcoal burning, furniture making, and construction.

The Mida Creek Conservation and Awareness Group, registered in 2004, is one of the local community groups working tirelessly to conserve the KBA. Its activities include awareness creation and advocacy, mangrove planting, beach clean-ups, participating in the annual waterfowl census, and income-generating activities such as beekeeping, ecotourism, and selling mangrove seedlings.

Raising seedlings of hope in Cherangani

Posted on by John Mwacharo
By Julius Kimani and Paul Kaino

In the Cherangani Hills, communities are leading a transformative effort to restore degraded forests and build resilience against climate change. In 2024, six Community Forest Associations (CFAs) from the area achieved a remarkable milestone of producing 700,000 tree seedlings in a year! This feat shows how concerted local action can spur forest restoration efforts. The CFAs – Elgeyo, Kessup, Cherangani, Cheptongei, Kapyego, and Chesoi – have established vibrant nurseries that nurture over 20 species of indigenous trees, including Syzygium guineense, Markhamia lutea, Hagenia abyssinica, Olea europaea ssp. africana, Juniperus procera, Prunus africana and many more. These nurseries ensure a steady supply of seedlings for forest restoration efforts while empowering communities with new skills and economic opportunities to create a greener, more sustainable future.

The journey to this milestone has been as transformative as the outcome. Through Nature Kenya, with financial support from the TerraFund for AFR100 project, CFA members have been trained in tree nursery management and provided with essential materials, such as potting tubes, wheelbarrows, hose pipes, watering cans, water tanks and piping, to support their efforts.

“Thanks to Nature Kenya, we’ve learned valuable skills to manage our nurseries and restore our forests,” says Mercy Chebet, a member of Chesoi CFA. “This achievement gives us pride and hope for the future.”

Beyond restoring forests, tree seedling production has become a lifeline for local communities. Selling seedlings to the restoration program, county governments, and private buyers has brought much-needed income.

In the Kessup forest, one of thirteen fragments of the Cherangani Hills Forest that spans Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties, the CFA raised over 400,000 seedlings and earned over Ksh 2.1 million through the sale of the seedlings. Similarly, Cheptongei CFA produced more than 160,000 and earned more than Ksh 4 million by selling seedlings to the project. “This income helped sustain our operations and improve our lives,” says Dr Thomas Chepkiyeng, Chairman of Elgeyo CFA.

Women have been key players in this success story. The Berur Women’s Group, part of Kessup CFA, has expanded its operations and created economic opportunities by selling seedlings.

The impact of producing these seedlings extends far beyond the nurseries. In April and November 2024, over 288,000 seedlings of 18 assorted species raised in the CFAs’ nurseries were planted across 290 hectares of forest, marking significant progress in restoring degraded areas inside the state forests. To ensure survival, the communities take care of the planted seedlings.

“On average, the survival rate of the planted seedlings is 80%, which is proof that our efforts are working,” says John Musa, a committee member of Cheptongei CFA.

Under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS), communities have been granted access to degraded state forest areas by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), where they plant trees alongside crops, thereby blending conservation with food security.

The CFAs are not stopping at 700,000 seedlings. Going forward, they plan to expand production to one million seedlings annually while diversifying into flower and fruit farming. This ambitious vision underscores the communities’ commitment to conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

“This is only the beginning,” says Hance Juma, a forest station manager at Kessup Forest. “Anything is possible when communities and other stakeholders come together for a common goal – to restore our degraded forests.”

The Cherangani Hills Forest is part of a montane global biodiversity hotspot and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Cherangani, vital for biodiversity and local communities, provides critical ecosystem services as a water catchment for the Kerio Valley basin (Lake Turkana) and Lake Victoria basin, supporting domestic use, irrigation, industry, and hydropower.

Local youth step up efforts to conserve Cherangani Hills Forest

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Julius Kimani

The Cherangani Hills Forest ecosystem is undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the ‘Understanding Cherangani Links to Human Well-Being’ project. This initiative, funded by the Global Center on Biodiversity forClimate (GCBC), is empowering local youth to take the lead in conservation efforts while tackling pressing challenges such as biodiversity loss, poverty, and climate resilience. Nature Kenya is implementing the project as the lead in a partnership with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenyatta University, and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). By combining traditional knowledge with scientific research, the project places young community members at the forefront of safeguarding nature and livelihoods.

Spanning approximately 100,000 hectares across Trans-Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot counties, the Cherangani Hills Forest is a vital water catchment area between the Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana basins. Designated as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), the forest provides invaluable ecosystem services, including clean water and cultural values. However, these benefits are under constant threat from deforestation, illegal encroachment, land fragmentation, and the impacts of climate change. Recognising that sustainable solutions must involve the community, the project is engaging local youth to help gather essential data that will shape future conservation strategies.

In May 2024, 34 young people were trained to use Kobo Collect, a mobile data collection tool, to assess ecosystem services and conduct Restoration Opportunity Assessments Methodology (ROAM). Through the workshop, participants developed skills in conducting interviews, recording observations, and ensuring data accuracy. Their role extends beyond data gathering—they are now key agents of change, bridging the gap between local communities and conservation efforts.

Collaborating with KEFRI, the project also trained 50 youth drawn from various groups, including Indigenous communities, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), and farmer groups. They were then assigned to conduct socio-economic surveys in forest blocks such as Kapyego, Chesoi, Kapolet, Kapkanyar, and Lelan. These surveys explored the impact of deforestation and land use changes on livelihoods, providing critical insights to inform Participatory Forest Management Plans (PFMPs).

The project’s impact extends beyond immediate benefits. Twelve youths participated in a rapid biodiversity assessment led by the National Museums of Kenya, where they collected data on plants, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish. Meanwhile, another group of eighteen youth studied pollination services to support a forest restoration business case. Twenty other participants assessed soil carbon levels to evaluate the forest’s role in climate regulation. Moving forward, these youths will play a crucial role in developing an Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) strategy and action plan to tackle the region’s climate challenges.

Beyond contributing to the project’s goals, these young people are gaining invaluable skills in research, environmental conservation, and data management—skills that can open doors to careers in conservation and related fields. More importantly, their involvement fosters a deeper understanding of how healthy ecosystems contribute to human well-being, inspiring a sense of environmental stewardship.

Once the data collection phase is complete, the findings will guide scientists, policymakers, and conservation agencies in designing solutions to protect Cherangani’s biodiversity while promoting sustainable forest use. These solutions will be implemented at national and county levels, ensuring that the ecosystem and the communities that depend on it can thrive in the wake of climate change.

This project is about preserving a forest and empowering a generation to take charge of their future. By equipping youth with the tools to make a difference, the initiative is creating a ripple effect—turning conservation into a movement where nature and people thrive hand in hand. The Cherangani youth are proving that the future of conservation is bright, dynamic, and full of possibilities.