Project Description:
Specific objectives
The specific objectives of the project are:
1. Wetlands institutional management framework strengthened to enable improved ability of the Kimana wetlands to adapt to climate change by enhancing wetlands functions, values and benefits through appropriate interventions in relation to wetland management and climate change adaptation. and
2. Improved management of water resources for human and wildlife to benefit through sustainable wetlands policies, laws and practices, including through advocacy by the Kimana Wetlands Policy linkage group that is lobbying for a fully integrated policy, legal and institutional framework at the national level with the Kimana Wetlands as a cutting edge example.
About the Kimana wetlands
The Kimana wetlands are found in one of the driest districts in Kenya. The pressure that has been imposed on them by small-scale farmers farming in the wetlands and abstracting water for irrigation, and pastoralists in search of water and pasture due to the prolonged and persistent drought has caused further degradation. This prolonged drought is attributed to climate change, and though most agree this situation is going to get worse, yet there are few reliable forecasts of the likely extent of climate change impact on these wetlands in the future.
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Wetlands International’s Wetlands and Poverty Reduction Project (WPRP)
Between 2006-2008, AWF implemented a two and a half year demonstration project with support from the Wetlands International’s Wetlands and Poverty Reduction Project (WPRP) which had the overall goal of optimizing water use and allocation between the three main competing land-use options of crop production, livestock rearing and wildlife conservation. Among the key achievements of the project was the establishment of the Kimana Wetlands Association, a framework for community participation in wetland management.
The project also ensured the development and enactment of wetland regulations by NEMA in 2009, providing for measures for the protection of wetlands as well as wetlands planning and also establishing baseline indicators and a monitoring framework that could provide feedback on the progress towards achievements of the project goals.
Official recognition by the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources
In view of this, the project was granted official recognition by the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources to serve as a demonstration project on community participation in wetland management as outlined in the Draft Wetlands Policy. Lack of an institutional framework to balance the diverse land use systems was identified as contributing to the increasing degradation of the ecosystem and resource conflicts.
Project Partners:
Government partners: Department of Livestock, Department of Agriculture, Kenya Forests Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Ministry of Water, The Water Resources Management Authority, The Water Resource Users Associations, The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Local Administration, including the Chiefs, District and Divisional Officers, District Commissioners
NGO and CBO partners: World Vision, The Noomayianat Community-based Organization, The Kimana Wetlands Association