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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Community groups fight growing threats to the wetlands

Environment & Climate

By Caroline Chebet | Feb 03, 2025

Locals are seen on the banks of the Athi River, one of country's main rivers, during World Wetlands Day in Thika, Kenya on February 01, 2025. Every year on February 2, World Wetlands Day? is celebrated around the world to draw attention to the importance of wetlands and raise awareness.[AFP]

In Dunga swamp, where papyrus reeds sway gracefully, water and life intertwine, creating a delicate balance that sustains diverse biodiversity, including rare birds, fish, and insects.

For years, Friends of Dunga Swamp Site Support Group has worked tirelessly to preserve this vital wetland, one of the country’s key ecological sites.

For George Owere, the community’s commitment to protecting the swamp inspired the formation of the conservation group, which actively raises awareness about its importance.

“Dunga swamp is a unique wetland. Besides being home to rare animals like sitatunga, a wetland-dwelling antelope, it serves as a fish breeding ground and a habitat for rare bird species. It is also a critical water source for the local community,” Owere said.

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As one of the country’s vital wetlands, Dunga swamp, like many others, faces numerous pressures, including encroachment.

“If we allow people to drain the swamp, we risk losing the biodiversity and benefits it provides. The swamp is a lifeline to fishing and supports ecotourism, and is crucial for research activities.

As a conservation group, we use key environmental days to raise awareness and undertake restoration activities,” Owere said.

While the Friends of Dunga Swamp site support group in Kisumu is dedicated to conserving the wetland, other groups, such as the Sabaki River Conservation group, are engaged in similar efforts to protect vital ecosystems.

In Sabaki, members like Elina Charo understand the importance of wetland preservation. She works to restore degraded mangrove forest along the river mouth where the Tana River meets the ocean. Charo also understands the challenges that these delicate ecosystems face and the need for resources and attention to maintain them.

“Sabaki is a lifeline for us and many other animals and birds. It is where we fish and earn revenue from ecotourism. However, we also face challenges like siltation, pollution, and encroachment,” Elina said.

Despite the challenges, members of the site support group have been working to raise awareness in local communities about the importance of preserving wetlands. Like those in Dunga Swamp, they conduct beach clean-ups and environmental education in schools.

Site support groups have been preparing for World Wetlands Day with activities across the country.

In Mida Creek, an open-air cinema session was held as part of environmental awareness activities. The community watched a film highlighting Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek, showcasing the biodiversity and natural treasures of coastal ecosystems.

These conservation groups are part of 30 Site Support Groups across the country, championing conservation efforts in their areas through monitoring, education, and advocacy.

What is the status of key wetlands across the country?

Experts warn that Kenya’s wetlands, vital indicators of environmental health, are deteriorating under increasing pressure from various sources.

“This disturbing trend is evident in the declining waterfowl populations at Rift Valley lakes,” says Dr Paul Matiku, Director of Nature Kenya.

He identifies key challenges contributing to the decline, such as the poor state of catchment areas, driven by harmful farming practices and deforestation, which leads to severe soil erosion and increased siltation in lakes, dams, and other wetlands.

“Despite the growing environmental challenges, there has been a lack of adequate funding or substantial efforts to conserve these crucial biodiversity sites,” Matiku adds.

He emphasizes that Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) play a crucial role in drawing attention to and securing action for sites that would otherwise be overlooked.

Sharpe’s Longclaw at Yala Swamp, a vital site for papyrus endemics and cichlid species, and the Dakatcha Woodland, the only known breeding site for the Kilifi (Clarke’s) Weaver—found exclusively in Kilifi County—are among the key biodiversity hotspots in Kenya, according to experts.

While community conservation groups across the country have been raising awareness on the importance of wetlands, recent reports indicate a concerning decline in the status of these vital ecosystems.

An assessment of key biodiversity habitats reveals a troubling trend in conservation efforts and responses to mounting pressures.

The State of Kenya’s Key Biodiversity Areas report, released by Nature Kenya in January 2025, assessed 68 of the country’s biodiversity hotspots, including several wetlands.

The report highlights proposed and ongoing infrastructural developments, land use changes, deforestation, encroachment, and pollution as major threats to the survival of critical biodiversity areas.

KBAs are facing increasing pressures from infrastructural developments, including plans to upgrade the road through Aberdare Forest and the proposed nuclear power generation plant along the Kenyan coast, both flagged in the report.

Land use changes have also placed significant pressure on biodiversity hotspots, such as Kinangop highland grasslands. Other areas like Lake Ol’ Bolossat are dealing with poaching of grey-crowned crane chicks and eggs, while small game snaring is rampant in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Dakatcha Woodland, and Tsavo East National Park. The report also highlights concerns over the collision and electrocution of birds by energy infrastructure, including power lines and wind turbines.

Water pollution continues to affect lakes like Nakuru and Naivasha, while planned mineral prospecting and mining pose major threats to sites like Chasimba KBA in Kilifi. Similarly, titanium prospecting near Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and in the Tana River Delta has raised environmental alarms.

Salt manufacturing factories along the coast have been identified as another source of degradation for key biodiversity areas. Some factories dispose of highly concentrated waste, increasing water salinity and killing mangrove trees.

Unregulated livestock numbers, increasing pressure on pasture, and competition with wildlife have been documented in key areas such as Amboseli, Masai Mara, and the Samburu-Laikipia landscapes.

Despite a general decline in conservation efforts, the report highlights notable initiatives in these regions. It recommends restoring forests and landscapes and integrating biodiversity considerations across sectors. The report also cautions against constructing nuclear energy facilities in high biodiversity locations or near the ocean, especially given the threat of rising sea levels.