INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING OF WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABILITY: THE CASE OF OKANA WETLAND IN THE LOWER NYANDO RIVER BASIN, KENYA

Abstract

Wetlands are areas, which are temporarily or permanently waterlogged by either saline, brackish or freshwater. They have provided socio-cultural, economic and ecological values to the local communities since time immemorial. They have been utilized as sources of food, water, building and construction materials, handicrafts, medicinal herbs as well as grazing fields for both wild and domesticated animals. The wetlands in the Lake basin in particular have supported millions of livelihoods of the communities living within the basin. However, the utilization of the localized small wetlands has not been guided by appropriate management strategies despite the existing national wetlands conservation and management policy. This has given leeway to unregulated wetland utilization and ad-hoc management of the ecosystems. The situation has been exacerbated by the destruction of the basins’ catchment, which is likely to impact significantly on the wetland ecosystems due to a possible change in their distribution, utilization and management. The apparent change coupled with the rapid urbanization and increasing economic demand and human populations in the basin may result in degradation of the ecosystems. This puts the livelihoods of the adjacent local communities that directly rely on them at risk. An analysis of land use land cover change – cause and effects –in Okana wetlands is necessary if their numerous socio-cultural, economic and ecological values are to be enhanced now and in the future. The study focused on the Okana wetlands in the lower Nyando River basin in western Kenya and was guided by the Natural Resource Use theory. The objectives of the study included: Analysing land use changes in Okana area; determining the contribution of wetland resources to the household income in Okana area; determining the impacts of wetland resources utilization in Okana area, and assessing the effectiveness of wetland management regimes in Okana area. The methods of data collection used in the research study include informal interviews, structured questionnaires, observation, Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), photographs, remote sensing and review of related literature. Both random and purposive sampling techniques were used to ensure that the whole population is represented. The data was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques such as content analysis, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Barbier’s Economic Valuation Tool as well as ArcGIS software for the geo-referenced data. The results are presented in form of tables, charts, percentages, plates and discussions. The study has established that the wetland ecosystem has been encroached upon and converted into agricultural farmlands thereby reducing in size and resulting in decline in biodiversity due to habitat destruction; and that the riparian communities mostly depend on the wetland resources for their livelihoods. The findings of the study will help to enhance sustainable utilization and management of wetland resources in the study area and other regions through adoption of Bottom-Up strategy. The findings will also help policy makers and conservationists in reviewing the existing wetland conservation and management policy in Kenya. This will be based on the generated data and/or information on the status of the wetland, its current use and potential threats.