Background information about Kenya
Kenya sits on 582,644 Km2 at the eastern coast of Africa with the Equator passing almost at its middle. Most of her regions stretch out in the Sudano-Sahelian belt and is a crucial channel of intercontinental maritime contact. The small percentage of moist humid or sub-humid 13% is the most productive region. The rest of the country is largely arid and semi-arid, although it is also used for agro-pastoralism and pastoralism carrying half of the total livestock population. From the 2009 census, her population stands at 37.8 million people with highly productive areas like the rift valley, central and western reporting the highest density. Only 25% of that population lives in urban areas (CBS).
Kenya also benefits economically from Indian Ocean territorial waters as well as the Exclusive Economic zones where it explores, exploits, conserves, and manages marine natural resources. According to the World Bank report for the period between 2005 and 2010, she recorded $2722 (PPP). Kenya suffers frequent cyclic droughts almost every decade, while minor ones occur in 3 to 4 years (UNDP). Climatic variability leads to large and recurrent inconsistency in agricultural production; decreased crop diversity leading to market failures and huge economic losses. She heavily relies on agriculture, tourism, livestock, fishing agro-industries, hydropower and water resources for foreign exchange, subsistence, sectors, and large GDP contribution (GOK, 17). In spite of this, Kenya faces numerous environmental challenges like desertification, pollution, land degradation, and wrath of climate change in form of floods and droughts. This can be illustrated using the graph below.
Source of data: UNEP (p.4)
Depletion of wetland areas in Kenya
Wetlands comprise a wide range of ecosystems, for instance water bodies’ like lakes, coral reefs and oceans as well as their catchments areas. The depletion of wetlands has been due to factors such as; destruction of catchments areas through deforestation and human settlement for instance, the Mau Complex, Aberdares, and Sondu, over fishing, inefficient sewerage system, pollution, and emission of waste and climate change. In the dominant Lake Victoria, increased eutrophication has birthed water hyacinth that threatens aquatic life and affects water levels through blockage (Odada &Olago14). This hinders the supply of clean water to the population causing loss of lives due to water borne diseases.
Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru lie in the more productive Rift Valley region having great economic benefits in terms of fisheries and tourism. Water levels have tremendously gone down in the past five years. In the 2010 drought, Lake Nakuru almost went dry while Elmentaita totally dried up. Similarly, effluents released from the industries killed aquatic life in Lake Naivasha rendering it unattractive for tourism. Since 2011, fish prices have gone up sharply due to scarcity owing to inaccessibility caused by water hyacinth and effluents. There is rampant over fishing and destructive fishing practices given the archaic and inefficient methods of fishing with high poverty levels in Nyanza Region and the East Africa basin sharing it (Odada &Olago, p.14).
A greater problem lies in threatened water catchments especially the Mau forest key in Kenya’s water supply and economy in terms of energy (hydroelectricity), tourism, tea, forestry to revenues of over 25 billion shillings. Approximately, 25% of the Mau has been destroyed in the last two decades in spite of its economic importance. 61,586.5 ha of the protected land were excised in 2001. Mara River level has gone down threatening wildlife dependency Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems. Between 1996 and 2001, 27 extra sources of water have totally dried up around the Mau Escarpment and the rift valley (CBS).
Kenya coastline has witnessed sea level rise caused by excessive siltation, infrastructure development as, ports, industries, tourism, and fishing. Where as, most Kenyan lakes are overexploited, LakeTurkana is underutilized despite the high poverty levels in that region. However, the proposed use of the lake for hydro-energy poses a major threat to the lake and people’s livelihood. Mount Kenya has not also seen a lot of ice loss up to 90% over the past 10 decades. The Aberdares have been largely destroyed due to settlements, although the government is trying to reverse the situation (UNDP).
Effects of depletion of wetlands in Kenya
The analysis of environment and natural resource management in developing countries is intricate, given the necessity of environmental exploitation for development due to poverty level and economic position. On the other hand, this destruction could lead to grave economic and social consequences. This can be looked at from the point of economic growth, poverty alleviation, and sustainability.
Depletion of wetlands and economic growth and business
Wetlands are critical in an economy in terms of tourism, food security, water supply, energy, fisheries, and other ecosystem services. However, they have been overexploited thus, diminishing their production capacity. Kenya heavily relies on tourism for foreign exchange. Major attraction sites are shaped by these wetlands for example the Maasai Mara, coral reefs, the coastline, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Baringo just to mention a few (NEMA). Destruction of these areas could map Kenya as an unsafe destination and less attractiveness.
Excisions of wetlands has negatively affected natural resources and growth investments, such as Lake Nakuru, Mara Reserve, Sondu Miriu Hydropower, Olkaria geothermal plants, small hydro-energy plants (4MW) and Kericho Highlands crucial for tea production. Kenya’s tourism is deeply embedded in wildlife and contamination of lakes has threatened the existence of the wildlife (Harding & Devisscher). Contamination of Lake Naivasha witnessed death of hippopotamus, fish and other species while in Lake Nakuru bird watching seized due to death of flamingoes and other bird species.
Destruction of wetlands has crippled agricultural productivity in Rift valley and Mt. Kenya regions. Kenya now faces water scarcity both in the rural and urban areas (NEMA). Government expenditure on clean water health and health care has increased due to water borne diseases (Harding & Devisscher). This has also raised operating costs for water and energy discouraging investments and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).
Depletion of wetlands and poverty alleviation
Poverty can be a cause of destruction of wetlands and a consequence of the same destruction. A large percentage of Kenya’s population is poor comprising of squatters and informal settlements. They resolve to live and carry out subsistence farming along riverbanks causing erosion, silting, and release of chemical fertilizers into the waters. This has left the population without safe drinking water and water borne diseases without access to health care.
Environmental degradation has increased poverty owing to reduced agricultural production and natural resources. Kenya is part of members ratified under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose one of the objectives is to address environmental issues and reduce poverty. Activities like over fishing, charcoal burning and harvesting fish before the optimal age are fuelled by poverty, yet they lead to more destructive effects that aggravate poverty levels.
Depletion of wetlands and sustainability
Environmental destruction increases with increase in economic growth. The three triangle objectives are complimentary in the end, but in the short-run there may be trade-offs in view of the immediate standpoint of the individual farmer to gratify the family’s basic needs. Environmental degradation is addressed under the social pillar of vision 2030. This sustainability also goes to economics and if tourism is to continue earning foreign exchange and a 10% economic growth starting 2012, there is a need for sustainable environmental policies (UNEP, p.4).
The role of government in addressing destruction of wetland areas
The government of Kenya in different capacities has tried to reverse the situation. Vision 2030 is one of the most evident policies that the government is hoping to use to achieve a clean, safe, and sustainable environment. In the vision, Kenya should increase forest cover by 4% and cut by half environmental-related ailments in 2012 alone.
Formation of National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has also been a great stride in the prevention of environmental destruction. It looks into building regulations especially on wetlands, water pollution, soil pollution, and noise pollution. However, it would be more effective if it were granted independent powers to prosecute violators.
There are also measures to restock fish and other species in some lakes as well as controlling industrial activities in terms of effluents. There have also been clean up efforts in various rivers especially in Nairobi.
Despite these efforts, there is much more to be done, though things are promising to look up in the future. However, the greatest challenge lies not in the policies, but the commitment and political will of government and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the policies. Public awareness, civic education, and sensitization will also be crucial.
Works Cited
Central bureau of statistics (CBS). Ministry of Planning and National Development, Economic Survey. Nairobi: CBS, 2005.Print.
Government of Kenya (GOK). National Integrated Natural Resources Assessment. 2007. Web.
Harding, Brian & Devisscher, Tahia 2009, Review of Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi: Ecosystems Chapter, Kenya. Web.
NEMA. Effects of Climate Change and Coping Mechanisms in Kenya. NEMA Report: Kenya. 2009. Print.
Odada, Eric and Olago, Daniel. “Mitigation of Environmental Problems in Lake Victoria, East Africa.” Causal Chain and Policy Options Analyses 33.1 (2004): 1-2. Print.
United nations environmental programme (UNEP). Status of Environment and Natural Resources Statistics in Kenya. n.d. Web.
United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP). Environment, Energy and Climate Change. n.d. Web.