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| Wetlands international opens Nairobi office to tackle Kenya challenges |
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As the only global non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation, restoration and wise use of wetlands such as rivers, marshes and lakes, Wetlands International is tackling issues old and new through its recently-opened Kenya office. This is the 20th country office of the organisation, which has a regional Africa office in Senegal and its global headquarters in the Netherlands. From the grounds of the East African Wildlife Society in Nairobi, Wetlands International is working with humanitarian and development partners in the Ewaso Nyiro North Basin. The Ewaso Nyiro North River flows beyond Isiolo to Merti before disappearing into the Lorian Swamp. River flows here have always been seasonally variable, but recently, not only have water levels become difficult to predict, but the river is changing course and local communities frequently suffer the extremes of drought and flood. Ninety percent of people around Merti depend on pastoralism, yet as this water source becomes less reliable, there is often little pasture to feed the herds. Worse, drought conditions degrade the soil, so that when heavy rains fall, as in late 2011, people recovering from drought can suddenly find their possessions, livestock and occasionally their lives, washed away by flash floods To improve people’s resilience to these disasters, Wetlands International is working with Red Cross, CARE, Cordaid and Red Cross Climate Centre, through the ‘Partners for Resilience Alliance’. Within this alliance, Wetlands International advises on sustainability and ecosystem management, so that vital resources like pasture and water are carefully managed. Wetlands International is also supporting the residents and biodiversity in the Tana Delta. Agricultural and industrial schemes here are utilizing land and water, which can lead to problems for herders, farmers and fishers. Changes in weather patterns are also leading to erratic floods, drought and soil degradation. Yet the need for the country’s economic growth is real, and conservation actors must work with all interests to use resources more sustainably and equitably. To improve natural resource management policies and practices, Wetlands International has joined forces with IUCN Netherlands, BothENDS, Nature Kenya, Wild Living Resources and ELCI, along with the Kenya Wetlands Forum under the ‘Ecosystems Alliance.’ While the office itself is new, Wetlands International has worked with a wide range of Kenyan partners, including the National Museums of Kenya and Kenya Wildlife Service, since 1990. Best known locally for coordinating the African Waterbird Census together with BirdLife International, the organisation previously teamed up with the African Wildlife Foundation to support the sustainable management of the Kimana wetland area, and provided training to natural resource managers on ecosystem-based climate change adaptation, in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute (KWSTI) and the Africa Institute for Capacity and Development (AICAD).
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