Caroline Achieng Odera
Other projects
28 Nov 2011
Community Empowerment for Restoration and Conservation of Kusa and Koguta Wetlands, Kenya
20 May 2013
Enabling Local Best Practices for the Conservation of Kusa and Koguta Wetlands, Kenya
The project aim is to undertake biophysical survey of Kusa and Koguta Wetlands and empower Grass-root site conservation groups and communities through training and conservation education and public awareness for conservation of the wetlands.
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).
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.
Caroline interviewing a fishmonger at Koguta.
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 to do that by undertaking baseline survey of the wetlands habitat status in terms of biophysical aspects and social threats to enable design of appropriate interventions, establish and train site conservation groups at each site to spearhead grass root conservation of Koguta and Kusa wetlands and create awareness and educate Koguta and Kusa wetland communities and other stakeholders on the imperative of the wetlands for desired attitudinal and behavioural change. 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.
Project Goal:
a) To promote grass-root initiatives for the restoration and conservation of Koguta and Kusa Wetlands.
Project Specific Objectives:
i. To undertake baseline survey on wetland habitat status of Koguta and Kusa Wetlands for informed interventions.
ii. To establish and train site conservation groups at Koguta and Kusa wetlands to spearhead their restoration and conservation.
iii. To create awareness and educate the two wetland communities and other stakeholders on the importance of Koguta and Kusa Wetlands for desired attitudinal and behavioural change.