The difficult choice - to conserve the living filters or utilizing the full potential of wetlands: Insights from the Yala swamp, Kenya

Abstract

Wetlands are very productive ecosystems and provide a lot of goods and services to wetland-dependant communities worldwide. Despite their importance in terms of ecological, biological and socio-economic roles, they remain constantly under threat and many continue to be degraded and sometimes even lost at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic reasons. It is crucial to comprehend the utilization of wetland resources in terms of their ecological, restorative potential, biological and socio-economic roles and thereafter suggest on their wise use. The objective of the study was to determine the management and utilization of Yala swamp, the effects of the swamp utilization on livelihoods and conservation, and explore sustainable land use strategies for the swamp. Questionnaires were administered to 490 household heads from four project sites in two counties; 8 focused group discussion and 50 key interview informants were used to get information on the utilization. About 78.1% of the household heads were categorized as poor followed by the rich (15.1%) whereas the very rich and very poor had the same proportion. About 50.8% had land of 1–2.99 ac and up to 14.9% were landless. This encouraged them to encroach on the swamp. There were conflicts on land ownership which exacerbated destruction of the swamp. However, over 87% of the household heads had an interest in sustainable management of the swamp due to the benefits got from the swamp. Farming followed by use of papyrus were the main livelihood activities across all wellbeing categories. There is an urgent need to protect the swamp against encroachment and unsustainable exploitation. Further, the community should be sensitized on the importance of wetlands not only for livelihoods but also for conservation of biological diversity. Involvement of community in management of the swamp is necessary for participatory management. Several opportunities for sustainable development of the swamp should be explored by all stakeholders.