Caroline Achieng Odera
Other projects
2 Feb 2010
Grass Root Initiatives for Restoration and Conservation of Koguta and Kusa Wetlands, Kenya
20 May 2013
Enabling Local Best Practices for the Conservation of Kusa and Koguta Wetlands, Kenya
The project’s aim is to establish a Village Agroforestry centre(VAC) for multipurpose tree seedlings and habitat restoration, two ecosan units as demonstration plots for human manure generation for organic farming and community capacity building in value addition.
Koguta swamp (0o 19' South 34o 46' East) is a wetland at the mouth of the Sondu-Miriu river, a few kilometres south-west of the Nyando river mouth on the shores of Lake Victoria. Kusa swamp (0o 13' South 34o 56' East) at the mouth of River Nyando, is a wetland at the easternmost end of Lake Victoria's Winam Gulf. The wetlands are characterized by Phragmites spp Cyperus papyrus and Vossia cuspidate vegetation. Likewise cattle and hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) are common in the area. The resident birds species include, Red-Chested Sunbird (Nectarinia erythrocerca), Sharpe's Pied-babbler (Turdoides sharpei), Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri), Carruthers's Cisticola (Cisticola carruthersi), White-winged Scrub-warbler (Bradypterus carpalis), Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Chloropeta gracilirostris).
Tree seedlings section of the Village Agroforestry Centre.
Koguta and Kusa wetlands are facing numerous human threats; reclamation for farming and settlement, burning for fishing lungfish and paving access roads for sand harvesting, overharvesting of papyrus for crafts making and overgrazing. These threats are prevailing despite the significance of Koguta and Kusa wetlands in terms of habitat for rare wildlife and endemic papyrus specialist birds, some of which are listed by Birdlife International as threatened, flood control, source of water during drought, sediments traps, water purification and fish breeding grounds.
A community member volunteers at the village Agroforestry centre.
The foregoing necessitates urgent need for grass root initiatives for the restoration and conservation of Koguta and Kusa wetlands to restore their ecological integrity and linked ecosystem goods and services. This project aims at establishing a Village Agroforestry Centre (VAC) for multipurpose tree seedlings production and habitat restoration, ecosan units as demonstration plots for human manure generation in organic farming and community capacity building on sustainable papyrus harvesting and value addition. The project will be implemented by Lake Victoria Tour Guides Association (LVTOGA) under partnership and proactive involvement of community members and groups to enable success and sustainability.