Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable ... · within the Serengeti-Maasai Mara Ecosystems (SMME). The spectacular annual wildebeest migration is considered one of the

Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Management of the Mara River Basin

i

Sustainable Management, Mara River Basin

Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

for Sustainable Management of the

Mara River Basin

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February 2010

This report was published jointly by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission of the East African Community (EAC) and WWF Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Programme Office (WWF-ESARPO).

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is a specialized institution of the East African Community that is responsible for coordinating the sustainable development agenda of the Lake Victoria Basin. Its vision is to promote, facilitate and coordinate activities of different actors towards sustainable development and poverty eradication of the Lake Victoria Basin. The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is striving to:

• establish a trans-boundary agreement to ensure water flows to sustain the biodiversity of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem

• encourage implementation of harmonized river basin management practices and policies. • facilitate cross boundary management of natural resources in the Mara River basin.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

• conserving the world’s biological diversity• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Cover photos: (top) WWF-ESARPO, (bottom) WWF-ESARPO

© text and graphics: 2010 Lake Victoria Basin Commission and WWF-ESARPO All rights reserved

The findings, interpretations and conclusions in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), WWF – Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Programme (ESARPO), or agencies and governments to which the authors are associated. The colours, boundaries, denominations, and classification in this report do not imply, on the part of the East African Community, LVBC, WWF-ESARPO, agencies and governments to which any of the authors are associated, any judgement of the legality or the status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary.

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. No use of the publication may be made for resale or for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the prior permission in writing from the Executive Secretary, Lake Victoria Basin Commission.

For bibliographic purposes, this document should be cited as:LVBC & WWF-ESARPO, 2010. Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Management of the Mara River Basin. Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya.

Any inquiries can be addressed to the same at the following address:

Editing and Design: Kimunya Mugo

The Executive Secretary Lake Victoria Basin Commission P.O. Box 1510-40100 Kisumu, Kenya Tel: +254 (0)57 20238 / 897 Fax: +254 (0)57 2026324 [email protected] www.lvbcom.org

The Regional Representative WWF Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Programme Office P.O. Box 62440 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 (0)20 3877355 / 2124744 Fax: +254 (0)20 3877389 [email protected] www.panda.org/esarpo

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ContentsAcknowledgements iv

Acronyms iv

Foreword vi

Executivesummary vii

Chapter1:TheMaraRiverBasin 1

1.1 GeographicandeconomicsettingofMaraRiverBasin 11.2 Theforesthabitats 41.3 TheSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystem 71.4 AquaticHabitats 9

Chapter2:International,regionalandnationalframeworksonbiodiversityconservation 13

2.1 Definitionandcomponentsofbiodiversity 132.2 Globalvaluestobiodiversity 132.3 Globalthreatstobiodiversity 142.4 Objectivesandkeyprovisionsoftheconventiononbiologicaldiversity 142.5 The2010BiodiversityTargetsandIndicators 152.6 Otherinternationalcommitmentstoconservationofbiodiversity 152.7 Internationalinstitutionalmechanismsforconservationofbiodiversity 162.8 Nationalbiodiversitystrategiesandactionplans 162.9 KeybiodiversityresourcesofKenyaandTanzania 172.10 ThreatstobiodiversityresourcesinKenyaandTanzania 172.11 Regionalpoliciesandlegalinstrumentsformanagementofbiodiversity 172.12 Nationalpoliciesandlegalinstrumentsformanagementofbiodiversity 18

Chapter3:Thebiodiversitystrategyandactionplan 19

3.1 TheneedfortheBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlan 193.2 OverallgoalforMRB 193.3 ObjectivesoftheBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlan 193.4 GuidingprinciplesfortheBSAPinMRB 203.5 ApproachesandmethodologytodevelopmentoftheBSAPforMRB 213.6 Objectivesfortheforestedhabitats 213.7 ObjectivesforSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystem 213.8 Objectivesforaquatichabitats 213.9 Activitiestobeundertakenunderdifferentobjectives 223.10 Activitiesforobjectivesinforestedhabitats 223.11 ActivitiesforobjectivesinSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystem 233.12 ActivitiesforobjectivesinAquaticHabitats 24

Chapter4:ImplementationmechanismfortheBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlan 26

4.1 InternationalandRegionalInstitutions 264.2 NationalInstitutions 264.3 LocalInstitutions 274.4 NGOs,CBOsandPrivateIndividuals 274.5 FundingImplementationoftheBSAP 274.6 Monitoring,EvaluationandReporting 27

Bibliography 28

Annex:Someofthebiodiversityrelatedpolicies,lawsandplansofKenyaandTanzania 33

Kenya 33Tanzania 34

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AcknowledgementsPreparationofthisBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlan(BSAP)wasfacilitatedbytheGlobalWaterforSustainability(GLOWS)ProgramandtheWWF-EasternandSouthernAfricaRegionalProgrammeOffice (WWF-ESARPO) with financial support from the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment-EastAfrica(USAID-EA).Theplanwasdevelopedinassociationwithdistrictauthorities,SerengetiNationalPark(SENAPA),MasaiMaraNationalReserve(MMNR),NEMA-Kenya,NEMC-Tanzania, Lake Victoria South Catchment Management Authority of the Ministry of Water andIrrigation(Kenya)andtheLakeVictoriaBasinWaterOfficeoftheMinistryofWaterandIrrigation(Tanzania).PreparationoftheBSAPwascoordinatedbytheLakeVictoriaBasinCommission(LVBC)oftheEACandWWF-ESARPO.Alltheseinstitutionsareacknowledgedfortheirinput.Wearealsograteful to thedifferentstakeholdersand thestaffof theLVBCandWWF-ESARPOwhoprovidedinputsthatgreatlyimprovedtheBSAPandtheconsultantswhofacilitatedtheprocess.

AcronymsADB AfricanDevelopmentBankAWF AfricanWildlifeFoundationASAL AridandSemi-AridLandsBSAP BiodiversityStrategicandActionPlanCBD ConventiononBiologicalDiversityCBO Community-BasedOrganizationCITES ConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFloraCOMIFORM CommunityBasedIntegratedForestResourcesConservationandManagementProjectCOP ConferenceofPartiesDRSRS DepartmentofResourceSurveysandRemoteSensingEAC EastAfricanCommunityEARPO EasternAfricaRegionalProgrammeOfficeEAWS EastAfricanWildlifeSocietyEFA EnvironmentalFlowAssessmentEIA EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentENRM EnvironmentandNaturalResourcesManagementENSDA EwasoNgiroSouthDevelopmentAuthorityESARPO EasternandSouthernAfricaRegionalProgrammeOfficeEU EuropeanUnionFAO FoodandAgriculturalOrganisationFZS FrankfurtZoologicalSocietyGBM GreenBeltMovementGEF GlobalEnvironmentalFacilityGIS GeographicalInformationSystemsGLOWS GlobalWaterforSustainabilityGMO GeneticallyModifiedOrganismsGoK GovernmentofKenyaICDP IntegratedConservationandDevelopmentProjectILRI InternationalLivestockResearchInstituteIUCN InternationalUnionforConservationofNature-WorldConservationUnionIUU IllegalUnreportedandUnregulatedFishingIWRM IntegratedWaterResourceManagementKFS KenyaForestServiceKFS KenyaForestServiceKFWG KenyaForestsWorkingGroupKWWG KenyaWetlandsWorkingGroupKWS KenyaWildlifeServiceLVB LakeVictoriaBasinLVBC LakeVictoriaBasinCommissionLVEMP LakeVictoriaEnvironmentalManagementProject

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LVFO LakeVictoriaFisheriesOrganizationMFCP MauForestConservationProjectMFR MauForestReserveMMNR MasaiMaraNationalReserveMRB MaraRiverBasinMRBMI MaraRiverBasinManagementInitiativeMRBP MaraRiverBasinProjectMRF MaraRegionalForumNBI NileBasinInitiativeNBS NationalBureauofStatisticsNBSAP NationalBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlanNEAP NationalEnvironmentalActionPlanNEMA NationalEnvironmentalManagementAuthorityNEMC NationalEnvironmentManagementCouncilNELSAP NileEquatorialLakesSubsidiaryActionPlanNGO Non-GovernmentalOrganizationNORAD NorwegianAgencyforDevelopmentNRM NaturalResourceManagementNSF NationalStakeholderForumPA ProtectedAreaSENAPA SerengetiNationalParkSIDA SwedishInternationalDevelopmentAgencySMME Serengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystemSNP SerengetiNationalParkTAC TechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeTANAPA TanzaniaNationalParksTWUF Trans-boundaryWaterUsersForumUNCCD UnitedNationsConventiontoCombatDesertificationUNCED UnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopmentUNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeUNEP UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramUNESCO UnitedNationsEducation,ScientificandCulturalOrganizationURT UnitedRepublicofTanzaniaUSAID UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopmentWRUA WaterResourceUsersAssociationWWF WorldwideFundforNature

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ForewordTheMaraRiverBasin(MRB)isoneoftheriverbasinswithintheLakeVictoriaBasin(LVB)andis shared between Kenya (65%) and Tanzania (35%). TheMara River originates from the MauForestinKenyaandflowsthroughMasaiMaraNationalReserve(MMNR)inKenyaandSerengetiNationalPark(SNP)inTanzaniabeforedrainingintoLakeVictoriainTanzania.TheMRBisrichinbiodiversitywithoneofthehighestspeciesdiversityoflargeherbivoresintheworld.ThebasinhasadiversityofvegetationfromforesttosavannathroughwhichalargenumberofanimalsmigratewithintheSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystems(SMME).Thespectacularannualwildebeestmigrationisconsideredoneofthewondersoftheworld.ThebiodiversityoftheMRBishoweverthreatenedby habitatmodification and fragmentation, a reduction in vegetation cover and species diversity,and over-exploitationandcompetition from invasive species,mainly as a consequenceofhumanpopulationgrowth.ItwasthereforefoundnecessarytodevelopaBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlan (BSAP) forMRB to enableKenya andTanzania tomanage the trans-boundary biodiversityresourcesoftheMRB.

The BSAP was developed on the basis of international, regional and national frameworks onbiodiversityconservation.BothKenyaandTanzaniaratifiedtheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)andhavedevelopedNationalBiodiversityStrategiesandActionPlans(NBSAP)toaddresstherequirementsoftheCBD.BothcountriesarealsoPartnerStatesoftheEACandarepartiestotheEACProtocolonSustainableDevelopmentforLakeVictoriaBasin.Article3oftheprotocoloutlinesareasofcooperationwhichrelatetoconservationandsustainableutilizationoftheresourcesofthebasinandArticle33establishestheLakeVictoriaBasinCommission(LVBC)asabodyforthesustainabledevelopmentandmanagementoftheLakeVictoriaBasin,withabroadrangeoffunctions,includingguiding implementation of sector projects and programmes, promotion of capacity building andinstitutionaldevelopmentandinitiationandpromotionofprogrammesthattargetpovertyeradication.The EAC has also prepared a protocol on Environment and Natural Resources Management tofacilitatecooperationinenvironmentandnaturalresourcesmanagement.In2005,theEACpublishedits “Vision and Strategy Framework forManagement and Development of Lake Victoria Basin”whichestablishesasharedvisionandalongtermstrategicplanforthesustainablemanagementanddevelopmentoftheLVB.IndividualPartnerStatesoftheEACalsohavepolicyandlegalframeworksformanagingcomponentsofbiodiversity.

ThisBSAP forMRBwasdeveloped througha consultativeprocess involvingkey stakeholders atinternational,regional,nationalandgrassrootlevels.TheBSAPexamineshistoricalandcurrentuses,changes,currentstatus,threats,currentactionsandrequiredactionsforsustainablemanagementofbiodiversityintheMRB.Itfocusesonthreecriticalecosystemsnamely:theMauForestandMarariverineforest;theSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystems;andtheAquaticHabitatsoftheMaraRiver.Theoverallgoalistomaintainarichbiodiversitythatbenefitsthepresentandfuturegenerationandecosystemfunctions.Themainobjectiveistoimproverurallivelihoodbypromotingtrans-boundaryecosystemmanagementoftheselectedecosystemsbycollectinganddisseminatingknowledgeandusingittomanagetheresources.Themeasurestobeundertakentargetimprovingpolicy,legislationandinstitutions,economics,investments,appliedresearch,communication,educationandawarenessraising.ImplementationoftheBSAPwillrequirecommitmentofinternational,regional,nationalandgrassrootsinstitutions,includinggovernmentagencies,NGOs,CBOsandprivateindividuals.Theseinstitutionsarecalledupontoembracethesemeasuressoastoimprovecollaborativemanagementofthetrans-boundaryresourcesofMRB.

DrTomO.Okurut

EXECUTIVESECRETARY,LAKEVICTORIABASINCOMMISSION

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Executive summaryFollowing international agreements on environmental management and sustainable development,including the Rio Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, bothKenya and Tanzania ratified theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and developed National Biodiversity Strategies andActionPlans (NBSAPs). In addition, theEACdeveloped aProtocol onEnvironment andNaturalResourcesManagement(ENRM).ThisBSAPisoneoftheeffortsoftheEAC,incooperationwithWWF-ESARPOandUSAID-EA,toachievetheobjectivesoftheCBDandoftheprovisionsoftheprotocolforENRMwithrespecttobiodiversityconservationandmanagementintheMRB,thetrans-boundarynaturalresourceswhicharesharedbyKenyaandTanzania.

TheBSAPhasbeendevelopedforthefollowingreasons:a) Regional watershed protection: TheMau Forest in Kenya and theMara riverine forest

in both Kenya and Tanzania comprise one large drainage basin of Lake Victoria. Theprotectionofthiswatershedandassociatedbiodiversityisimportantnationally,regionallyandinternationally;

b) Reductionofenvironmentaldegradation:TheMRBisvulnerabletomanyanthropogenicactivities includingfire,over-utilizationof resourcesand increasingaridity inanareaofunpredictable rainfall.Therefore, a strategy toprotectbiodiversity in theMRBprovidesan opportunity to develop mitigation measures for a much larger problem affectingenvironmentalmanagementinEastAfrica;

c) Protectionandmanagementofbiodiversity:TheMRBisveryrichinbiodiversity,butthisisbeingdepleted.Itisnecessarytodevelopstrategiestocurtailbiodiversityloss;

d) Tourismpotential:Thebasinisuniqueintermsofforestandsavannabiodiversitywhichisunequalledbyanyotherareaintheworld.Itisthecentreofwildlifeandnaturebasedtourism,andthebiodiversityofthebasinisvaluableasaninternationaltourismasset;and

e) socioeconomicdevelopment:Thediversetopographyandclimateoftheareaisamenabletovariouslandusesincludingagriculture,agroforestry,fisheries,pastoralism,huntingandgoldmining.Theseactivitieshavesocioeconomicandecologicalimpactsonbiodiversity,anditisimperativethatacoordinatedapproachisusedtoachievebiodiversityconservationinthisregion.

ThebiodiversityofMRBisfacinganumberofthreatswhichincludehabitatlossand/ormodificationduetohumanpopulationgrowth,deforestation,farming,over-grazing,settlements, illegalhunting,andinfrastructuredevelopment.Over-abstractionofwaterandalterationofriverflowregimesposeafundamental threat tobiodiversityand livelihoods in thissemi-aridregion. Inrecognitionof thisproblem,WWF-ESARPOinliaisonwiththeLVBCispursuingastrategyofusingEnvironmentalFlowstodetermineappropriatewaterresourceallocationintheMRB.Similarly,globalwarmingandclimatechangehavebeenidentifiedasemergingthreatsformosthabitatsandspecies.Bilateralcooperation,policy,enforcementlawsandinstitutionaldifficultiesarealsoabarriertobiodiversityconservationandmanagement.Other barriers to sustainable natural resourcemanagement in the basin include:inadequate use of the scientific information available on theMRB in decision-making processes;weak trans-boundary legal and policy framework between Kenya and Tanzania on biodiversitymanagement;andminimalscaling-upandapplicationofbestpracticesforintegratedmanagementofnaturalresourcesthatbalanceconservationwithsustainablelandandwatermanagement.

StudiesintheMRBsuggestthatthebestapproachtoconservationofbiodiversityisnotonlythroughconservation of plant and animal species, but also through conservation of habitats. Moreover,experienceshowsthatthebestwaytoconservespeciesisthroughprotectionoftheircriticalhabitats.ThisBSAPaimsatconservingbiodiversityintheMRBthroughconservationofthreecriticalhabitatsnamely:(i)ForestHabitatsoftheMauForestandMaraRiverineForests;(ii)theSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystem;and(iii)AquaticEcosystemoftheMaraRiver.

At least oneobjective has been identified for eachhabitat to satisfy the biodiversity conservationrequirementinthathabitat.Eachobjectivehasatleastoneactivitythathastobeundertakentomeetthebiodiversityconservationrequirementforthatobjective.

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ThebiodiversityoftheMRBismostvulnerabletoactionsofthepeoplelivinginthebasinaswellastradersinbiodiversityresources.ThisBSAPprovidesoptionsaimedatincreasingpeople’sperceptionofthedirectbenefitstheyreceivefromutilizationofbiodiversityasonewaytocreateownershipandtomakepeoplecustodiansofbiodiversityconservation.Theconceptofaparticipatorycommunityapproach to biodiversity conservation and co-management is emphasized. The BSAP providescomprehensive interventions to minimize biodiversity loss in the basin. A combination of legal,technical(investment),socioeconomic,appliedresearch,communication,educationandawarenessraisinginrelationtobiodiversityconservationareemphasised.

GovernmentanddonorresourceshavebeentheprimarysupportforbiodiversityconservationintheMRB.Duetotheselimitations,interventionshavemainlybeendonordrivenandmostlyaddressingshort-term needs with inadequate ownership of the interventions. This BSAP hopes to establishmechanismsthatensuresustainabilityoffunding,aswellasdrawingonprivatecapital.CommunityownershipandparticipationwillbesoughtandobtainedatallstagesofimplementationoftheBSAP.However,involvementofmajordonorswillstillberequiredduetothelargescopeoftheplan.

ThisBSAPhasbeenwritten to elucidate theoverall strategyandactionplans to conservecriticalbiodiversity habitats throughout the MRB. Detailed activities will need to be developed by theresponsibleactorsandthesewillbeincludedinadetailedworkplan,aswellasalistofmeasurableperformance indicators in terms of quantity, quality and time frame. The responsible actors arecomprised of government departments, international conservation organizations, protected areaauthorities, environmental conservation agencies, private individuals, and research and financialinstitutions.Overallcoordination,monitoringandevaluationwillbetheresponsibilityoftheLVBC.

Implementation of the BSAP will contribute to sustainable development and economic benefitsfor thepeopleof theMRBandbeyond.However,commitmentwillberequiredfromstakeholdersincludinglandowners,land-managersandpolicymakerstoachievetheseendsthroughprotectionofbiodiversityoftheMRB.ItisexpectedthatthegovernmentsofKenyaandTanzaniaandtheEACpartnerstatesandotherstakeholderswillbuildontherecommendationsmadeintheBSAPtocreateavibrantandeffectiveintellectualandmoralframeworktosupporttheconservationandmanagementofbiodiversityresourcesoftheMRB.ThisBSAPisanadaptiveanddynamicdocument,andtherewillbeneedforcontinuousandimprovedunderstanding,developmentandevaluationoftheknowledgeofbiodiversityconservationandsocioeconomicpolicyinterface,aswellasestablishmentoffeedbackloopsinitsimplementation

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Chapter 1: The Mara River Basin

This chapter provides the background to the BSAP and describes the geographical and economic setting of MRB and its critical habitats namely:

a) Forest Habitats of Mau Forest and Mara riverine forests;b) The Serengeti-Maasai Mara Ecosystems; andc) Aquatic Habitats.

It provides an overview of each of the critical habitats including:i. The values;ii. The current status; iii. The threats; andiv. The current actions.

1.1 Geographic and economic setting of Mara River Basin TheMRBisoneofdrainagebasinsthatfeedintoLakeVictoriaandisfunctionallyandecologicallyrelatedtothesocioeconomicactivitiesofthelake.TheMaraRiveroriginatesfromtheNapuiyapuiswampintheMauEscarpment(2,932masl)andflowsthroughtheplainsofMaasaiMaraNationalGameReserveinKenyaandSerengetiNationalParkinTanzaniabeforeenteringLakeVictoria(1,134masl) (Fig. 1.1).TheMaraRiverBasin covers approximately13,750km2 and is sharedbetweenKenya(65%)andTanzania(35%).Kenyaholdsakeyresponsibilityindeterminingthefutureofthisbasin,asthebasin’sheadwatersstemfromKenya’sMauEscarpmentandLoitaHills.Thebasinislocatedbetweenlongitudes33º47’Eand35º47’Eandlatitudes0º28’Sand1º52’S

Figure 1.1: The location and relief of the Mara River Basin in Kenya and Tanzania. (Mati et al 2005)

Serengeti

Masai Mara

Ruma

Hell's Gate

Lake Nakuru

True

NAROK

SOTIKKISII

MAGADI

GILGIL

TARIME

MUSOMA

KERICHO

NAIVASHA

HOMA BAY

36°30'E

36°30'E

36°0'E

36°0'E

35°30'E

35°30'E

35°0'E

35°0'E

34°30'E

34°30'E

34°0'E

34°0'E

0°30

'S

0°30

'S

1°0'

S

1°0'

S

1°30

'S

1°30

'S

2°0'

S

2°0'

S

K e n y aK e n y a

T a n z a n i aT a n z a n i a

±0 30 6015

Km

LegendTowns

River

Protected Areas

National Boundary

lake

Mara relief (metres)3,100

1,100

Africa

LakeVictoria

r

Nyang

ores R

iver

Sand River

Mara River

Amala R

iver

Mara River

Engare

Ngo

bit

N

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ThepopulationintheMRB(Tables1&2)isapproximately800,000people,themajorityofwhomliveinKenya.InKenya,thecombinedannualpopulationgrowthrateforNakuru,Bomet,NarokandTransMaraDistricts is 2.4% for theperiod from1999-2010 (KenyaNBS, 2006).ThepopulationgrowthwithintheMaraRegionofTanzania,whichincludesTarime,SerengetiandMusomaDistricts,is2.5%(TanzaniaNBS,2003).

Table 1. Population characteristics of the Mara River BasinHuman Population (est.2009) Total: 803,741; KE: 531,5951; TZ: 272,1462Tourism Numbers Increase from 133,000 visitors in 1995 to 240,000 in 2004 in MMNR1, and from

59,564 visitors in 1990 to 378,218 in 2002 in the Serengeti National Park2

Livestock Numbers 1,079,270; KE: 559,204; TZ:520,0663

Wildlife Numbers (est. 2000) Resident: 233,573; Migratory: 1,600,000 (wildebeest, Thompson gazelle and zebra)

1 Kenya NBS, 2005; 2 Tanzania NBS, 202; 3 Hoffman, 2007

Table 2. Historic and projected human populations within the Mara River Basin from 2000 to 2030

Human Population in the MRB2000 2010 2020 2030

Kenya 428,706 556,497 705,448 894,268

Tanzania 231,614 282,204 361,251 462,437

Total 660,320 838,701 1,066,699 1,356,705(Hoffman 2007)

ThemainperennialtributariesoftheMaraRiveraretheAmalaandtheNyangores,whichdrainthewesternMauEscarpment.Other tributaries include the Talek,which starts fromLoita plains andjoins theMara in theMasaiMaraNationalReserve (MMNR), theEngareNgito,originating fromtheIlmotyookoitridges,andtheSandRiver,whichisthelastmaintributary,joiningtheMaraattheKenya-TanzanianBorderintheSerengetiplains.TheMaraRiverthenflowsthroughTanzaniaandintotheMaraSwamp,finallydrainingthroughtheMaraBayintoLakeVictoriaatMusoma.Meanannualrainfallrangesbetween1,000-1,750mmintheMauEscarpment,900-1,000mminthemiddlerangelands,and700-850mminthelowerLoitahillsandaroundMusoma.TherearetworainyseasonsbetweenMarchandJune,andNovemberandDecember.

ThevaluesoftheBasin

TheMRBsupportssomeofthehighestlevelsofbothspeciesdiversityandbiomassoflargeherbivoresin the world (Fig. 1.2 & 1.3) and is important internationally, regionally and nationally. Otherattributesofthebasinincludeavariedequatorialclimate;existenceofbothhighlandsandlowlands;influenceoftheMaraRiver,wetlandsandLakeVictoriawaters;diversityofvegetationandsoils;localmigrationofalargenumberofspecieswithintheSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystem(SMME);alargeproportionofresilientsavannas;andextensiveretentionoftraditionalmethodsoflanduse,includingnomadicpastoralistsandnon-sedentaryagriculturalists.Thespectacularannualwildebeestmigrationisconsideredoneofthewondersoftheworld(Fig.1.2).TheseattributesattractvisitorsandmaketheMRBanimportantinternationaltouristdestination.

ThemainecosystemsoftheMRBconsistoftheForestedHabitatsoftheMauForestandtheMarariverineforest;theSerengeti-MaasaiMaraEcosystem;andtheAquaticHabitatsoftheMaraRiverandtheMaraSwamp.

ThreatstobiodiversityoftheBasin

Therearemajor threats to thebiodiversityof theMRB, includinghabitat lossand/ormodificationduetoincreasinghumanpopulation,deforestation,farming,over-grazing,humansettlements,illegalhunting, infrastructure development and tourism.Over-abstraction ofwater and alteration in riverflowregimesparticularlyposeathreattobiodiversityandlivelihoodsinthissemi-aridregion.Globalwarmingandclimatechangehavealsobeenidentifiedasemergingthreatsformosthabitatsandspecies.Limitedbilateralcooperationinpolicyimplementationandlawenforcement,amongotherinstitutional

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Figure 1.2. Wildebeest crossing the Mara River during the annual migration (Photo: F. Hoogervorst)

Figure 1.2: Wildebeest crossing the Mara River during the annual migration. (Fred Hoogervorst/WWF-ESARPO)

difficulties,hashamperedbiodiversityconservationandmanagementinthearea.Otherthreatsincludeweaktrans-boundarylegalandpolicyframeworkinbiodiversitymanagement;institutionalbarriersleading to inadequate use of the available scientific information on theMRB in decision-makingprocesses; andminimal scaling-up andapplicationofbest practices for integratedmanagementofnaturalresourcesthatbalanceconservationwithsustainablelandandwatermanagement.

ActionsinBiodiversityConservationintheBasin

The governments of Kenya and Tanzania have for a long time had programmes on biodiversityconservation in theMRB. In addition, there are a number of international, regional and nationalinstitutions that have been involved in conservation of biodiversity in the MRB. Despite thesenumerousefforts,biodiversityoftheMRBcontinuestodeclineandthereisneedforanintegratedtrans-boundary approach to biodiversity conservation in the basin. It has therefore been foundnecessarytobuildawiderangeofstrategicplanningintoconservation,andtofindwaysfordifferentgroups,includinglocal,nationalandinternationalagencies,academicinstitutions,privatelandownersandorganizations, and public groups to network and collaborate to bring the separate approachestogetherinacomplementaryway.

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1.2 The forest habitatsThevaluesofforestedhabitats

TheforestedhabitatsconsistoftheMauForestandtheMaraRiverineForest.TheMauForestformsoneofthefivecrucialwatercatchmentsor“watertowers”inKenya.ItisthesourceofsomeofthelargeriversinKenyathatfeedLakesNakuru,Baringo,VictoriaandNatron.TheMaraRiveroriginatesfromtheMauForest.ForestedlandsalsoincludethecorridorofriparianforestalongtheMaraRiverwhichstabilizeitsbanksandreducesoilerosion.

Forestedecosystemsareimportantinbiodiversityconservationintermsoftheirregulative,protectiveandproductivefunctions,andthemannerinwhichtheyinfluencetheflowofmatterandenergyacrosslandscapes.Riparianforestsservecriticalrolesinstabilizingriverbanks,slowingdownrunoffduringlargerainfallevents,andreducingsoilerosion.Theyarealsohotspotsofbiodiversity.Attemptstoreplacenativeforestswithexoticspeciesaregenerallyineffectiveandsometimesharmful,becausetheresultantmonocultureshavealowercapacitytobufferanthropogenicfactors.

Forests have recreational value as areas that harbor a diversity of life forms.Recreational touristactivitiesmayhavenegativeimpactsonforestbiodiversity,buttheunderstandingandappreciationgeneratedby such activities canproveworthwhile in the long run and could therebyalleviate thenegativeimpactsonbiologicaldiversity.Withtheexpectedtrendinincreasedtourisminforestedland,itisimportanttoplansoastominimizenegativeimpacts,especiallyinareasclosetowaterbodies.

Figure 1.3. Elephants in the Serengeti Plains (Photo: F. Hoogervorst)

Figure 1.3: Elephants in the Serengeti Plains. (Fred Hoogervorst/WWF-ESARPO)

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Thestatusofforestedhabitats

TheMauForestComplexhasbeendegradedoverthepastfewdecades.Thenaturalvegetationhasbeendecliningasclosedforestshavebeenreducedinareaby23%duetoforestclearingforteaand/ortimberharvest(Fig.1.4),whichhasincreasedopenlandby82%(Matietal.2005).ThecorridorofriverineforestalongtheMaraRiverhasalsobeenseverelydegradedforsmall-scalecultivationdespiteexistenceoflawsprotectingriparianbufferzones.

TheMauForestcomplexfallsunderthreeownershipregimes(Fig.1.5):• GovernmentGazettedForest;• TrustLandForest,managedbytheCountyCouncil;and• Privatefarmsandgroupranches.

Governmentgazettedforests

ThegovernmentgazettedforestsconsistofTransmara,theSouthernMaublockandtheOlposimorublock.TheTransmarablockincludesOlenguruone,Nairotia,andNyangoresforests,coveringatotalof35,270haandconsistingofmainlyindigenousandfairlyprotectedforests.TheSouthernMaublockcovers314haofindigenousforest.TheOlposimorublockoriginallycovered36,832haofindigenousforest,but20,000haofthishavebeenconvertedtosettlement,leaving16,832hectaresunderforestcover.

TheTrustLandForests

TheTrustLandForests,whichareunderthemanagementofCountyCouncils,consistofMaasaiMau,LoitaandEnosupukiaforestsinKenya.TheMaasaiMauForestoriginallycovered45,000hectares.About50%hasbeenlostduetounclearboundariesbetweentheprivatefarmsandtheforest.Also,someindividualswereissuedwithtitledeedsforlandbelongingtogazettedforestandsquatterswhowerechasedawayin1986havebegunreturning,leadingtoencroachmentontheforest.Loitaforestcovers20,000haandisfairlywellconservedbythelocalcommunity.TheEnosupukiaforestcovers10,772ha.Ithadbeenencroacheduponbysettlersandalargeportionhadbeendegraded,butaftertheevictionofsettlersinthemid-1990’s,theforesthasbeenshowingsignsofrecovery.

Figure 1.4: Mau Forest showing some loss of forest cover due to agricultural encroachment (Photo: F. Hoogervorst)

Figure 1.4: Mau Forest showing some loss of forest cover due to agricultural encroachment. (Fred Hoogervorst/WWF-ESARPO)

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Privatefarmsandgroupranches

ThePrivateFarms andGroupRanch forest areas are primarily found inOlolulunga,Nkoben andNkareta,andoriginallycoveredatotalof58,517ha.Thesearesmallpocketsofforests,whicharedisappearingatanalarmingrate,andmostofthemmayhavealreadybeenlosttologgersandcharcoalproducers.Somefarmersownupto200haofindigenousforeststockedwithcedar,podoandmanyothervaluablespecies.

Thethreatstoforestedhabitats

ThemajorthreatstotheforestedhabitatsintheMRBincludeencroachmentbysettlers,unclearforestboundaries,andownershipconflicts,includingissuingoffaketitles,illegalloggingandinadequatelawenforcement.Thesituationhasbeencomplicatedbypoliticalinterference.

Therehasalsobeenextensivelossofriverineforeststosmallandlarge-scalecultivation,andthelawsprotectingriparianbufferzonesalongrivershavenotbeenadequatelyenforced.PreviouslytheForestActwaslimitedinitsjurisdictiontogazettedforestsonly,leavingtheremainingcategoriesvulnerabletodeforestation.Moreover,thepenaltiestoillegaltradeinforestproductswereverylow.

Inorder toproperlymanagetheMauforestresources,clearboundariesneedtobeestablishedandmarked,illegalsettlementandfaketitledeedsneedtobeaddressed,andinnovativestrategiesmustbedevelopedtoreducelanduseconflicts.

Actionsinforestedhabitats

Thedepartmentsorinstitutionsresponsibleforenvironmentandnaturalresourcesmanagementsuchas forestry, water, wildlife, tourism, fisheries and agriculture in Kenya and Tanzania, as well asinternational,regionalandnationalnon-governmentalconservationanddevelopmentorganizations,haveattemptedtoaddresssomeoftheproblemsfacingtheforestedhabitatsusingapplicablelawsandregulationsbutwithlimitedsuccess.OtherinitiativesatthetimeofpreparingtheBSAParebrieflyoutlinedbelow.

Figure 1.5: Map of the Mau Forest Complex.

Lake Nakuru

Lake Elmenteita

SOUTH WEST MAU

EASTERN MAU

MAASAI MAU

TRANSMARAOL PUSIMORU

EBURU

WESTERN MAU

MENENGAI

MT. LONDIANI

MOLO

MAU NAROK

WEST MOLO

SOUTHERN MAU

OL PUSIMORU EXCISION

Kio

Moto

Turi

Koru

Keusa

Likia

Njoro

Sigor

Bomet

Kembu

Koiwa

Lanet

Kedowa

Rongai

Natalu

Mukuki

Bahati

Kiriri

Nakuru

Merigi

Tenwek

Kabarak

Sasamua

Kabsege

Dondori

OlbutyoLongisa

AinamoiChepsirKapkiam

Kericho

Tugunon

Njabini

Londiani

Ambusket

Menengai

Keringet

Olokurto

Elburgon

Ngunyumu

Sakutiek

Barchell

Kapkoros

Silibwet

East Mau

Cheptwech Mau NarokCheptalal

Ndaraweta

Kipkelion

Chesingele

Elmentaita

Kapsimotwa

Kapkimolwa

Chebangang

Mogogosiek

Enangiperi

Mau Summit

Olenguruone

Kipchimchim

Fort Tenan

Kaptebengwet

Shabaltaragwa

Molo

Enengipire

36°15'E

36°15'E

36°0'E

36°0'E

35°45'E

35°45'E

35°30'E

35°30'E

0°15

'S

0°15

'S

0°30

'S

0°30

'S

0°45

'S

0°45

'S

LegendUrban Centres

Roads

Excisions (2001)

Mau Forest Blocks

Lake

±0 10 205

Km

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TheKenyaForestAct,2005

In2005,theKenyaForestActwaspassedtoreplacetheForestAct(cap385).ThenewActaimedtofulfilKenya’scommitmentbothtotheinter-sectoraldevelopmentandsustainableuseofforestryresourcesandtointernationalagreementspromotingsustainablemanagement,conservationandutilizationofforestsandbiologicaldiversity.TheForestActof2005establishedtheKenyaForestService(KFS)toprotectandmanagethecountry’sforests;aForestManagementandConservationFundtoprovidefor conservation, education andmanagement activities; and rules and regulations for the creationandmanagementofforeststhathelptoaddresstheproblemofpoliticallymotivatedexcisionsfromKenya’sgazettedforestswithminimalreview.ItalsoprovidedforcommunityinvolvementinforestmanagementthroughcreationofCommunityForestAssociations.

TheCommunityBasedIntegratedForestResourcesConservationandManagement(COMIFORM)Project

The Community Based Integrated Forest Resources Conservation and Management Project(COMIFORM),isfundedbytheGovernmentofSpainthroughUNEP.Itworkswithcommunitiessurrounding theMaasaiMau Forest and theNarokCountyCouncil (the custodian of theMaasaiMauForest) to introduceashift fromunsustainable landusepractices tosustainablemanagement.OtherpartnersintheprojectareEwasoNgiroSouthDevelopmentAuthority(ENSDA),KenyaForestWorking Group (KFWG), Green BeltMovement (GBM), and Kenya Forest Service (KFS). TheobjectiveoftheprojectistohaltfurtherdestructionoftheforestandtopromotereforestationwithinandaroundtheMaasaiMauForestandthewatercatchmentareasofLakeNatron,andriversMaraandEwasoNgiro.Thisistobeachievedthroughdecreasingthepressureontheremainingindigenousforestsbyprovidingalternativelivelihoodsandresourcestothecommunitiesadjacenttotheforestandthroughrestorationoftheforestcoverwithintheprojectarea.

WWFMauForestConservationProject

ThisisacollaborativepilotprojectimplementedbyWWFEasternAfricaCorporateClubintheupperregionsoftheMauForestComplextowardsforestrestorationandwatershedprotectioninsupportofcommunitylivelihood.Theprojectworkstowardsachievingthefollowingobjectives:

• ProtectingandconservingMauForest;• Empoweringcommunitiesinenvironmentalgovernancethroughpartnerships;and• Promotingenvironmentalawarenessthroughinformationdissemination.

WWFMaraRiverBasinManagementInitiative

Thisprojecthasbeenimplementedsince2008byWWF-EARPOwithfinancialsupportfromBMZ-Germany to promote Sustainable Forest and Water Resources Management in the Mau Forestand its surroundings.The goal of the project is to reduce highland forest degradation in theMaucomplexinordertorestoreecosystemservices.TheseservicesincludemaintenanceofriverflowsforsocioeconomicactivitiesdownstreamaswellasthesurvivalofwildlifeintheSMME.Theprojectendeavourstorestoretheecologicalfunctioningofapproximately15,000haoftheuppercatchmentof theMaraRiver, thus increasingdryseasonwater flows. It isalsoexpected tocontribute to thesocioeconomicwelfareofapproximately30,000peopleintheuppercatchmentandothersdownstreaminbothagriculturalandwildlifesectors.

1.3 The Serengeti-Maasai Mara EcosystemThevaluesofprotectedareas

Theprotected areas consists of savannah, grasslands and shrublands of theSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystem(SMME).Theyarefamousforwildlifeworldwideandcoverapproximately25,000km2.TheMasaiMaraNationalReserve(MMNR)andtheSerengetiNationalPark(SNP)havesomeofthegreatestconcentrationsof largeherbivoresandpredators in theworld.Theyhostonethegreatwondersoftheworldwithanannualmigrationofoveronemillionwildebeest.Severaldistincthabitatsexistwithin the protected areas, includingwetlands, open grasslands, shrubs, thickets,woodlandsandriverineforests.Thevegetationinthedrylowlandsisrepletewithxerophyllicplants,themostcommonbeingAcaciaandCommiphorawoodyplants.

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The SMME harbours one of the most diverse large herbivore assemblages found anywhere onearthwithup to92 speciesofmammals.Some rare species, suchas theaardwolf,goldencatandstripedhyenaarefoundinthisecosystem.Morethan452speciesofbirdshavebeenrecordedintheSMMEincludingfifty-threespeciesofbirdsofprey(Williams,1967).TheMMNRhasthehighestconcentrationofwildlifeinKenyaandisapriorityhabitatforconservationofantelopes.TheSerengetialsoharboursthelargestgiraffepopulationinAfrica,estimatedatbetween8,000and17,000,andamoderatepopulationofwilddog,anendangeredspeciesofinternationalimportance.TheEuropeanwhitestorkhasamajorwinteringgroundontheSerengetiplains.

StatusofSerengeti–MasaiMaraEcosystem

TheSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystemincludesnationalparkssuchasSNPandnationalreservessuchasMMNR.Humanactivities are restricted in all theprotected areas and are controlled as per theapplicableAct.Theyaremanagedtoensurethattheresourcesthereinmeettheneedsofthepresentgeneration without compromising their capacity to meet the needs of future generations. Theseprotectedareasare,however,underseveresocioeconomicandpoliticalpressure,whichmakesthemfailtomeettheirobjectivessatisfactorily.Casesofbiodiversitylossintermsofpopulationdeclineorlocalextinctionareincreasing.Protectionofspeciesneedstobeintertwinedwithhabitatprotection,andthisrequiresinvolvementofmultipleagenciesresponsiblefornaturalresourceconservationandmanagement. Sustainable natural resourcemanagementmust also extend outside of the protectedareas.

The Masai Mara dispersal area is an integral component of the SMME, which encompassesapproximately4,200km2(Sitati,2004).Thenaturalvalueof theareahas led to theproposition todesignatetheMMNRasaWorldHeritageSite.TheMasaiMaraGroupRanchesalsosupportahighanddiversepopulationofwildlifespecies.Itisanimportantwildlifedispersalareaandsupportsbothresidentandmigratorywildlifespeciesfromthereserve.SomegroupranchesadjacenttotheMMNRhaveformed“conservationareas”inwhichsustainablehumandevelopmentinpartnershipwithnaturalresourceconservationisbeingpromoted.Negotiationsareongoingforothergroupranchestofollowsuit.

Althoughpastoralismhasco-existedwithwildlifeandwaterresourcesoftheareaformanyyears,theMasaiareundergoingrapidchangesinlifestyle.Growinghumanpopulation(5.3%)andashifttoamoresedentarywayoflifehavegraduallyincreasedpressureonnaturalresources.HumanimmigrationandtheuptakeofcultivationamongsttheMasaihavefurtheracceleratedthepaceofchange.Thereisneedforadetailedmanagementplan toguidemanagementof theMasaiMaraand itsenvirons,aswellasalongtermconservationanddevelopmentstrategyforthearea.ThesegrowingpressuresrequireincreasinglysophisticatedmechanismstoensurethatadelicatebalanceismaintainedbetweenconservationandhumandevelopmentintheMasaiMararegion.

ThreatstoSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystem

Conservation and management problems in the protected areas include mismanagement of theresources,increasingpressuresexertedbyagrowinghumanpopulation,increasingsocioeconomicdemands such as tourism activities, encroachment of human settlements, hostile neighbours withconflictinginterests,andpoaching.Asaresult,theconservationstatusoftheprotectedareascanbeconsideredprecariousunlessimmediateactionsaretakentoremedythesituation.

TheannualaveragedeclineoflargeherbivoresintheSMMErangesfrom1.7%to8.1%forThomson’sgazelleandbuffalo,respectively(Kaeloet al.2007).Poachingispartlyresponsibleforthedeclineinbiodiversityoftheprotectedareas,asevensubsistencehuntingforbushmeatcanpushcertainspeciestoextinction(Alroy,2001).HuntingisallowedingamereservesinTanzaniabutprohibitedinKenya.Huntingcanhavesevereconsequencesonbiodiversityifnotwellmanagedandcontrolled.Alternativeoptionstohuntingdoexist,suchascapturinganimalstosellorprovidetoconservationinstitutions,andtheseoptionscanbeutilizedinthecaseoflocaloverpopulationofcertainspeciesofwildlifeorinstancesofnegativehuman-wildlifeinteractions.

Thecommunitylandsaroundprotectedareasarealsobeingincreasinglyconvertedtoprovidelandforsettlements,cultivationandgrazing.Theexploitationofbiodiversityresourcesinthecommunitylandshastraditionallybeenminimalduetothelowhumanpopulationandpartlyduetotheseasonal

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patternofusebysemi-nomadicpastoraltribes.However,withtheadoptionofnewmodesoflifebythesurroundingcommunities,theseareasarenowfacingunduepressure.Thebiodiversityintheseareaslacksadequatelegalprotection,anditsutilizationisoftenunplannedanduncontrolled.

Manyoftheabovethreatsarecausedbytrade-offsbetweenbiodiversityconservationandotherincomegeneratingactivities.Thereappears tobestrongeconomic incentives for individual landowners todeveloptheirlandattheexpenseofbiodiversity.Itisimportanttoidentifyanddevelopbiodiversity-friendlyalternativelanduses,whichwouldyieldacceptablelevelsofincometolandowners.Ithasbeen argued that the current revenues to landowners fromwildlife-based tourism are simply notadequatetostoplanddevelopment.ItalsoappearsthatthecommunitybasedIntegratedConservationandDevelopmentProjects (ICDPs) in theSMMEdonotgenerate thescaleof revenuesneeded toprevent the development of land (Norton-Griffiths, 1995). These institutional, market and policyfailures have been identified by economists as the link between economic growth and “excessiveloss”ofenvironmentalresources,andtheyposeasignificantthreattobiodiversityconservationandmanagement.

Lossofhabitatduetofarming,grazingandsettlementareincreasingintheMRB.Aswildlifehabitatislost,biodiversityisalsolost.Althoughareaswithmoderateagriculturaldevelopmentprovidegoodhabitatforsomespeciesofbirdsandsmallmammals,largemammalsaregenerallylostasagricultureexpands.Studieshaveshownthatagroforestryisonewaytoconservebiodiversity,becauseitallowscoexistenceofnaturalandagriculturalhabitats. Inaddition,agroforestryattractsspeciesbeneficialto farming, such as pollinators, and improve farm conditions by reducing soil erosion; thus, it iseconomicallybeneficialtofarmers(Bichier,2006).

ActionsinSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystem

Serengeti National Park has a general Management Plan developed for 2006-2016. Masai MaraNationalReserveisintheprocessofdevelopingaManagementPlan.However,coordinationoftheseplansisrequiredtopromoteharmonyinsustainablemanagementofSMME.

In 2001, management of the Trans Mara portion of the MMNR was contracted to a non-profitorganization,theMaraConservancy.Sincethattime,theMaraConservancyhasimplementedcross-bordercontrolswithTANAPAthathaveresultedinthearrestandprosecutionofmorethan1,300poachers,recovered10,500snares,recovered150stolenheadsofcattle,recoveredandtreatedseveralanimalsdamagedbysnares,andmadetheMaraTriangleandadjoiningareasrelativelysecureforthelocalcommunities,wildlifeandtourists.

Anotherexampleofapromisingapproachtosustainablemanagementof theprotectedareas is theSerengeti-LuangwaEcosystemManagementProject.This isa5year initiative,co-financedby theEUandFrankfurtZoologicalSociety(FZS),toimplementandapplytheCBD’sEcosystemApproachintheSMME.Theprojectemphasisesbuildingsustainableinstitutionalmechanismsforstakeholdercollaborationinecosystemmanagement,anddevelopingcommunityparticipationandempowermentinthemanagementofnaturalresources.Inaddition,FZS,throughUNEP,isdevelopingaGEFprojecttostudythedevelopmentofconservationfinancemechanismsfortheSerengetiandNorthLuangwa.ThisprojectwillbuildupontheEcosystemManagementProject,withthenewGEFprojectfocusingontheestablishmentofsustainablefinancingsystemsforecosystemmanagement,complementingtheinstitutionalmechanismsbeingdevelopedbytheEU-financedproject.

1.4 Aquatic HabitatsThevaluesofaquatichabitats

TherearetwoprimaryAquatichabitatsinMRB,theMaraRiveritself,andtheMaraSwamp.ThesehabitatsarelinkedinacontinuousnetworkextendingfromtheheadwatersofthebasinintheMauForestthroughtheMaraSwamptoLakeVictoria.Theyincludechannelsandadjacentriparianhabitatswhichareheavilydependentonthewaterandtheflowregimesprovidedbytheriver.Rivercorridorsareahotspotforbiodiversityinthebasin,asbothaquaticandterrestrialspeciescongregatethere.

TheMaraRiverflowsfor395kmfromtheMauForestinKenyatoLakeVictoriainTanzania.Alongthis route, it provideswater forwildlife, livestock and human use, aswell as contributing to the

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ecologicalprocessesintheSMME.InAprilandMay,morethan1millionwildebeest(Fig.1.2),over200,000zebrasand400,000ThomsongazellesmigratewestwardfromtheNdutuPlaininTanzaniainsearchoffoodandwater.Thismigration,whichisthelargestonEarth,reachestheMaraRiverinJulyorAugustandcontinuesnorthward,eventuallycrossingtheborderintoKenya’sMaasai-MaraNationalReserve.Thismigrationhasbeenlinkedtowateravailabilityandwaterquality(Geretaet al.,2009).Inthesouth,animalsrelyontheGrumetiandMbalagetiRiversinTanzaniaforwater,buttheflowoftheseriversceasesduringthedryseasonleavingonlyaseriesofstagnantpoolstoprovidetheonlysourceofwater.

During severe droughts,which occur every six or seven years, even these stagnant pools dry up,leavingtheMaraRiverastheonlyperennialriverintheregion.Itistheonlysteadydry-seasonsourceofwatertograzinganimals,andthewaterneedsoftheseanimalsaresubstantial.Wildebeestandzebraconsumemorethan20litresofwaterperdayduringthedryseason(Hoffman,2007).TheMaraalsoprovidescriticalin-channelandriparianhabitatstoahostofotheranimals.Hippopotamus,crocodilesandfishrelyonin-streamhabitats,whileelephantsandmanyotherspeciesrelyonthefoodandcoveroftheriparianwetlandvegetation.Inadditiontoitscriticalecologicalrole,theMaraRiverplaysanimportantroleintheeconomicsofthebasin,astheMara-Serengetimigrationofwildebeest(Fig.1.2)isamajorattractionfortouristsvisitingbothKenyaandTanzania.

TheMaraSwampisthemostdownstreamportionoftheMaraRiver,extendingtotherivermouthonLakeVictoriaandcoveringanareaofapproximately70km2.TheriveremptiesintoLakeVictoriainMusomaBay,whichstretchesinaneasterlydirectionforapproximately20kmwithanaveragewidthof5km.TheMaraSwamp isa repositoryof floraland faunalbiodiversity (Munishi,2007). Thewetlandhasatleast13importantfishspecies,someofwhicharerareorendangeredinLakeVictoria(Chitamwebwa, 2007). They includeBrycinus jacksonii, Clarias alluaudi, Oreochronis niloticus, Schilbe intermedius, Clarias gariepinus, Synodontis afrofischeri, Ctenopoma muriei, Synodontis victoriae, Tilapia zilii, Oreochromis leucostictus, Protocephalus catastoma, Ctenopoma murieiandHaplochrominespp.

A total of 32 mammals have been observed inMara Swamp at different periods. They include:hippopotamus,sitatunga,wildpig (mbeche),warthog, reedbuck (tohe),waterbuck(kuro)and topi(nyemela)(Munishi,2007).

Themajorityofreptilesandamphibiansobservedorreportedtoinhabittheswamparevarioustypesofsnakesandfrogs(Munishi,2007).Somewereobservedduringfieldvisits,andotherswerereportedbythelocalpeopletoexistinthearea.Notallspeciesarewetlandresidents,althoughthepresenceofthewetlandhasaconnectionwiththeiroccurrence.Someonlyvisitthewetlandduringthedryseason,tosearchforfood,waterorshelter.Littleisknownaboutthestatusofthesetaxawithintheswampandfurtherstudiesareneeded

Therearedifferenttypesofinsectsresidentinoraroundthewetlands(Munishi,2007).Commoninsectsinclude senene (chinsaramaila), luba (chenyinta, liibi), scorpions (egetomari, nge), grasshoppers(ebisasi, panzi),mosquitoes(ensona, mbu), tsetseflies(lisagi, mbung’o),andbutterflies(kipepeo).Thesespeciesarecommonlyfoundindifferentseasons.

Atotalof81terrestrialbirdspeciesbelongingto28familieswereidentifiedaroundtheMaraRiverSwamp(Munishi,2007).Ofthesespecies,7werebreeding,5werecroppestsandseveralareendemicand/orendangered.A totalof15speciesof the terrestrialbirdsweremore frequentvisitorsof theswamp,ofwhichtheDark-cappedBulbul(Pychnonotus tricolour)wasthemostfrequentfollowedbytheVillage(Black-faced)Weaver(Ploceus cucullatus).

Threatstoaquatichabitats

Agricultural landuse in theMRBhas increasedby200%over thepast threedecades(Matiet al.,2005),andthishasbeenassociatedwithdeforestation,degradationofnaturalrangelandsandpoorsoilconservationefforts.Asaresultoflossinvegetationcoverintheuppercatchment,thewatercyclehasbeenreduced,resultinginrapidrunoff,highpeakflowsandsoilerosionduringrainfallevents.ThesechangeshavenotonlyaffectedthequantityandqualityofwaterintheMaraRiveritself,but

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alsotheMaraSwampdownstream.TheMaraSwamphasincreasedinareabyafactorof131%inthelast15years(Matiet al.,2005),anincreasethathasbeenassociatedwiththebuildupofsedimentsdownstreamfromupstreamerosionprocesses.

In addition to land use changes,water abstraction from the river is increasing to sustain growingurbanareas,irrigatedagriculture,tourismfacilitiesandtheminingindustry.Thesewaterusesarealsoincreasingpollutionoftheriver.Mostoftheurbancentresandtourismsiteslackfacilitiesforsolidwastedisposalorwastewatertreatment.Fertilizerinputandtopsoilfromagriculturallandsoftenendupasrunofffromthesteepslopesduringrainfallevents,asituationwhichhasbeenexacerbatedbythelossofriparianvegetation.Smallandlargescaleminingactivitiesrelyontoxicchemicals,suchascyanide,arsenicandmercury,whichcanalsoresultinpollutionintheriver.

TherearealsosomethreatswhicharespecifictotheMaraSwamp.Unsustainableagriculturalandfishingpractices, livestockgrazing,mining andharvestingofwetlandproductshavehadnegativeimpactsonbiodiversityoftheswamp.ThemainfishinggearusedinMusomaBayandMaraSwamparegillnets,longlinesandhandlines.Monofilamentgillnets,undersizedgillnets,beachseines,fixedstake-trapsandpoison(mainlyinsecticidesandherbicides)areillegal;however,theyaresometimesusedandtheircontrolisamajorprobleminmanagementofthefisheriesinthelake.Anothermajorthreatisburningofthewetlandwhenhuntingoropeninguplandforagricultureespeciallyinthedryseason.Controlofthispracticeisofgreatrelevanceforbiodiversityconservation.

Statusofaquatichabitats

The Mara River is under increasing pressure due to land use change and water abstraction forconsumptiveuse.Thechangeinlanduseintheuppercatchmenthasresultedinhigherpeakflowsduringtherainsandlowerflowsduringdrought(Matiet al.,2005).Abstractionlevelsforconsumptiveusesareoftenhighestduringthedryseason,puttingadditionalstrainontheriverecosystemduringthesecriticallowflows.BoththeKenyaWaterAct(2002)andtheTanzaniaNationalWaterPolicy

Fig. 1.6. An egret fishes in the Mara Swamp (Photo: F. Hoogervorst)

Fig. 1.6. An egret fishes in the Mara Swamp (Photo: F. Hoogervorst).

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(2002)requireprotectionofReserveflowstoprovideforbasichumanneedandtosustainecosystemsintothefuture(GoK,2002;URT,2002).AnEnvironmentalFlowAssessment(EFA)wasconductedin2007byWWF,withfinancialsupportfromUSAID-EA,todeterminehowmuchwaterisavailableintheriverduringdifferenttimesoftheyearandhowmuchisneededtomaintainreserveflows.Thisinformationallowsanestimateof the amountofwater available for abstraction (LVBC&WWF-ESARPO,2010.AssessingReserveFlowsfortheMaraRiver).

Duringyearsofnormalrainfall,thereserveflowismetandamplewaterisavailableforextractiveuses.Duringdrought,thesituationisquitedifferent,astheassessmentfoundthat,intheuppercatchment,thereservewasnotbeingmetduringseveralmonthsoftheyear.ThisprovidesevidenceofatrendtowardunacceptablealterationsoftheMaraRiver’sflowregime.Upstreamimpactsarelinkedtodownstreamresources,andpoorlymanagedwaterabstractionabovethewildlifereserveswillultimatelyaffectthedownstreamreachesaswell.

Actionsinaquatichabitats

In 2006, WWF-EARPO established the Mara River Basin Management Initiative, aimed atinstitutionalizing IntegratedWaterResourcesManagement in theMaraRiverBasin.This includesestablishmentofaMaraRiverWaterUser’sAssociationtoparticipateinwaterresourcesmanagementatthegrassrootslevel;establishmentofCommunityForestAssociationstoprotectforestedlandsandtore-plantdegradedforestsintheuppercatchment;andworkwithtourismfacilitiesintheBasintodevelopwastewater treatment facilities and toparticipate in apayment for environmental servicesscheme.

TheNileBasinInitiative,undertheNileEquatorialLakesSubsidiaryActionPlan(NELSAP),begantheMaraRiverBasinProject(MRBP)in2002.ThisprogramisalsoaimedatimplementingIWRMintheMRB.TheMRBPhasbeendevelopingwastewatertreatmentfacilitiesingrowingurbancentresaswellasdevelopinganinvestmentstrategyanddecisionsupportsystemfortheMRB.

ScientistsfromFloridaInternationalUniversityandUNESCO-IHEInstituteforWaterEducationhavealsobeenconductingresearchinpartnershipwithscientistsfromEgertonUniversity,JomoKenyattaUniversityandtheNationalMuseumsofKenya.ThesescientistsworkcloselywithWWF-MRBMI,NELSAP-MRBPandotherimplementingbodiesintheregion,whichinturnworkcloselywithlocal,nationalandregionalwaterresourcemanagementauthoritiesfrombothKenyaandTanzania.OtherdevelopmentsincludetheformationofNationalTechnicalAdvisoryCommittees,aTrans-boundaryWaterUsersForum,NationalandTrans-boundaryStakeholderForums,andaSecretariatfortheMRB.ThesedevelopmentsholdgreatpromisefortheimprovementofbiodiversityconservationintheMRB.

The above threats to the different habitats of theMRB havemade it necessary to apply existinginternational,regionalandnationaltoolstoconservebiodiversityoftheMRB.ThenextChapterwillexaminetheavailabletoolsformanagementofthebiodiversityofMRB.

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Chapter 2: International, regional and national frameworks on biodiversity conservation

This chapter describes international, regional and, national frameworks for managing biodiversity which forms the platform for preparation of the BSAP including:

a) The CBD and associated decisions of COP;b) The Regional Policies and legal instruments;c) The National Policies and legislation;d) National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans;e) Institutional frameworks; andf) Funding mechanisms

2.1 Definition and components of biodiversitybiological diversity is, according to Article 2 of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD),thevariabilityamonglivingorganismsfromallsourcesincluding,inter alia,terrestrial,marineandfreshwatersandtheecologicalcomplexesofwhichtheyarepart.Thisincludesthediversitywithinspecies, between species and of ecosystems.Biodiversity is the variety of theworld’s organisms,includingtheirgeneticmakeupandthecommunitiestheyform.Biologicalresourcesincludegeneticresources,organismsorpartsthereof,populations,oranyotherbioticcomponentofecosystemswithactualorpotentialuseorvalue.Therearethreecomponentsofbiodiversity:ecosystem,speciesandgeneticdiversity.Geneticbiodiversityistheinheritablevariationwithinthegenepoolofaspecies.Atthespecieslevel,biodiversityreferstothenumberofspeciesinhabitingacertainarea.Ecosystemdiversityisthevarietyofecosystemsorbiologicalcommunitiesfoundinagivenareaandtheirphysicalenvironment.These threecomponentsofbiodiversityare interrelatedalthough theyaresometimestreatedseparately.

2.2 Global values to biodiversityTheglobalvalueofbiodiversityasakeycomponentoftheenvironmentwasrecognizedduringthebuilduptotheUnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment(UNCED)inRiodeJaneiroin1992.Itwasrecognizedthatbiodiversityisthenaturalbiologicalcapitaloftheearthandrepresentsimportantopportunitiesforallnations.Itprovidesgoodsandserviceswhichsupporthumanlivelihood.Theprotectionoftheseassetsandtheirsustainableexploitationoffersthemeansbywhichhumanitysustainshisownwellbeing.Losinggeneswithinspecies,specieswithinecosystems,andecosystemswithinregionsreducesthebenefitsthatthesystemscansupplytohumanwellbeing.

Biodiversityvaluesfallinfourmaincategories:directusevalues,indirectusevalues,optionvaluesandexistencevalues.Directusevaluesarethebenefitsfromwhichpeoplederivetheir livelihoodsthroughexploitationofbiodiversitytoproducegoodsandservices,andtosupplyconsumers,industrialprocessorsandexportmarkets.Indirectusevaluesaretheecosystemservicesprovidedbybiodiversity.Optionvaluesreflectthedesireamongpeoplethatbiodiversityshouldnotbedestroyedbyitspresentusebutshouldcontinuetoprovidebenefitsofthesamequalityinthefutureatundiminishedrates.Existencevaluesrefertothesatisfactionpeoplegetfromsimplyknowingthatabiodiversityelementexistsalthoughtheydonotobtainanydirectorindirectgoodsorservicesfromit.Biodiversityisthebasisofsupportsystemsonwhichalllifedependforfood,fibres,shelter,medicine,pesticides,energy,industrialchemicals,water,andair.Itisthereforenecessarytoprotectit.

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2.3 Global threats to biodiversityBiodiversity is currently under extensive pressure from human activities such as industrial anddomesticactivities,landusechange,andover-abstractionofresources.Oneofthemajorthreatstobiodiversity is the reduction ingeographic rangeof species,primarilyasaconsequenceofhumanpopulationgrowth,habitatmodificationandfragmentation,speciesover-exploitationandcompetitionfrominvasivespecies,andclimatechange.Well-knownexamplesofsuccessfulinvadersinEasternAfricaare thewaterhyacinth,Eichornnia crassipes, andNileperch,Lates niloticus, in freshwaterecosystemsoftheLakeVictoriaBasinandterrestrialspeciessuchasProsopis juliflora, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Solanum incanum, Lippia javanica, Urtica massaica, Datura stramonium,andOccimum suave.Economiccostsofalieninvasionsareenormous,reachingbillionsofdollarsannually.

2.4 Objectives and key provisions of the convention on biological diversity ThethreatstobiodiversityspurredthenationsoftheworldtoenterintoalegallybindingConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)whichcameintoeffectduringtheEarth’sSummitinRiodeJeneiroinJune1992toguideconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity.TheCBDisthekeyinternationallegalinstrumentonbiodiversity.Itdefinestheobjectivesandprovidesaframeworkformanagementofbiodiversity.TheobjectivesoftheConventionare(Article1):

• Theconservationofbiologicaldiversity;• Thesustainableuseofitscomponents;and• Thefairandequitablesharingofthebenefitsarisingoutoftheutilizationofgeneticresources,includingappropriateaccesstogeneticresourcesandtransferoftechnologies.

TheCBDempowersnationstoexploitthebiodiversitywithintheirjurisdiction(Article3)butrequiresthemtocooperateinrespecttoareasbeyondtheirnationaljurisdiction,asinthecaseoftheMRB.TheConventionalsoprovidesaframeworkforconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity.

• Article6providesforgeneralmeasuresforconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityandobligesthepartiestotheconventiontodevelopNationalBiodiversityStrategiesandActionPlans(NBSAPs),ortoadaptexistingplanstoaddresstheprovisionsoftheCBDandtointegratebiodiversityconservationintosectoralandcross-sectoralplans,programs,andpolicies;

• Article7providesforidentificationandmonitoringofcomponentsofbiodiversitythatneedprotection;theprocessesthatthreatenbiodiversity;biodiversitywhichisimportantforconservation;andprocessesandactivitiesthathaveactual,potentialorsignificantimpactsonbiodiversity;

• Articles8and9provideformethodsofconservingbiodiversityeitherIn-SituorEx-Situ;• Article10proposesmeasuresforsustainableuseofthecomponentsofbiodiversity;• Article11providesformeasuresthatcanactasincentivesforconservationofbiodiversity;• Article12providesforresearchandtrainingtoprovideinformationandbuildcapacityforconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity;

• Article13providesforcommunication,educationandpublicawarenesstoprovideanunderstandingoftheimportanceof,andthemeasuresrequiredfor,theconservationofbiologicaldiversity,aswellasitspropagationthroughmedia,andinclusionineducationalprograms;

• Article14providesforenvironmentalimpactassessmenttominimizeimpactsofactivitiesonbiodiversity;

• Article15providesguidelinesforaccesstogeneticresources;• Article16providesguidelinesforaccesstoandtransferoftechnology;• Articles17providesforexchangeofinformation;• Article18providesforscientificandtechnicalcooperationinconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity;

• Article19providesforhandlingofbiotechnologyanddistributionofitsbenefits;and• Articles20and21suggestsourcesoffundsforconservationofbiodiversity.

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2.5 The 2010 Biodiversity targets and indicatorsInadditiontotheprovisionsoftheCBD,theconferenceofparties(COP)totheCBDmeetsperiodicallyandmakesadditionaldecisionstomeettheprovisionsoftheCBD.Forinstance,theseventhregularsessionofCOPin2002realizedthatbiodiversitywascontinuingtodeclinedespiteexistingeffortsandadoptedaStrategicPlanwiththemission:toachieveby2010asignificantreductioninbiodiversitylossatglobal,regionalandnationallevels,asacontributiontopovertyalleviationandtobenefitlifeonearth.Thepartiesagreedonsevenfocalareasandsomeheadlineindicatorsformeetingthe2010targets.

Thefirst focalarea targetedreducing the rateof lossof thecomponentsofbiodiversity, includingbiomes, habitats and ecosystems, species and populations, and genetic diversity. This would bedeterminedfrom:trendsinextentofselectedbiomes,ecosystemsandhabitats;trendsinabundanceanddistributionofselectedspecies;changeinstatusofthreatenedspecies;trendsingeneticdiversityofdomesticatedanimals,cultivatedplants,andfishspeciesofmajorsocioeconomicimportance;andcoverageofprotectedareas.

The second focal area targeted maintaining ecosystem integrity, and the provision of goods andservicesprovidedbybiodiversity inecosystems, insupportofhumanwell-beingbasedon indiceslike:MarineTrophicIndex;connectivity/fragmentationofecosystems;andwaterqualityinaquaticecosystems.

Thethirdfocalareatargetedaddressingthemajorthreatstobiodiversity,including:habitatchange;climatechange;pollution;over-exploitationandinvasivealienspeciesandwouldbedeterminedfromindicatorslike:trendsininvasivealienspecies;nitrogenandphosphorusdeposition;ecologicalfootprintsandrelatedconcepts.

Thefourthfocalareastargetedpromotingsustainableuseofbiodiversityandwouldbedeterminedfromindiceslike:areaofforest,agriculturalandaquacultureecosystemsundersustainablemanagement;andfromecologicalfootprintandrelatedconcepts.

Thefifthfocalareastargetedprotectingtraditionalknowledge,innovationsandpracticesandwouldbejudgedfromthestatusandtrendsoflinguisticdiversityandnumbersofspeakersofindigenouslanguages.

Thesixthfocalareastargetedensuringthefairandequitablesharingofbenefitsarisingoutoftheuseofgeneticresourcesforwhichindicatorswereyettobedeveloped.

Theseventhfocalareatargetedmobilizingfinancialandtechnicalresources,especiallyfordevelopingcountries,inparticular,leastdevelopedcountriesandsmallislanddevelopingstatesamongthem,andcountrieswitheconomiesintransition,forimplementingtheCBDandtheStrategicPlanandwouldbedeterminedfromtrendsintheofficialdevelopmentassistanceprovidedinsupportoftheConvention.

2.6 Other international commitments to conservation of biodiversityIn addition to theCBD, there are other international declarations, treaties, conventions, protocolsand policies which apply to conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of its components.TheDeclarationonEnvironmentandDevelopmentmadeatStockholmin1972followedbythatonEnvironmentandDevelopmentatRiodeJaneiroin1992,Agenda21,TheMillenniumDeclaration,andTheJohannesburgDeclarationonSustainableDevelopment,inJohannesburgin2002,committedallnations topursuethesustainabledevelopmentobjective.Theseandother legal instrumentsandtheirrelevancetotheMRBarelistedbelow.

Agenda21sets the internationaldevelopmentagenda for the21stcentury. It specificallycalls fordevelopmentofnationalstrategiesfortheconservationandsustainableuseofbiologicalresources.Biodiversityrelatedactivitiesfeatureprominentlyamongthe40ChaptersofAgenda21.

TheUnitedNationsConventiontoCombatDesertificationcallsforcooperationincombatingdroughtanddesertificationanditsconsequencesbytakingactionsthatcontributetosustainableuseofaridandsemi-aridlands(ASALs)toavoidspreadofdesertification.Kenyaratifiedthisconventionon24June,1997andTanzaniaon19June,1997.

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TheWorldHeritageConventionprovidesforprotectionofecosystemsandhabitatsofglobalscientificvalue.SerengetiNationalParkwasinscribedasaWorldHeritagesitein1981,thusthisconventionappliesdirectlytooneofthecriticalbiodiversityhabitatsintheMRB.

TheRamsarConventiononWetlandsofInternationalImportanceprotectswetlandstoenablethemto perform their ecological, economic, cultural, scientific and recreational functions, especially ashabitatsforbirdsandotherorganisms.Theconventionrequirescontractingpartiestoformulateandimplementplansthatensureconservationandwiseuseofwetlandswithintheirboundaries.Kenyaratifiedthisconventionon5June,1990andTanzaniainAugust,2000.

TheConvention on InternationalTrade inEndangeredSpecies ofWild Fauna andFlora (CITES)protectsendangeredspecies fromtrade throughcontrolling importandexports.Kenyaratified thisconventionon13December1978andTanzaniaon29November1979.

The1979ConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals(BonnConvention)providesforprotectionofwildanimalsthatmigrateoutsidenationalboundaries.Theannualmigrationofover1millionwildebeestbetweentheKenyanandTanzaniansidesoftheMRBisoneoftheSevenWondersoftheNaturalWorld,makingconservationofthisspectacleanissueofcriticalimportance.

TheFrameworkConventiononClimateChangeaimsatregulatingandstabilizinggreenhousegasesatlevelsthatdonotchangetheclimate.Kenyaratifiedthisconventionon30August,1994andTanzaniaon17April,1996.

TheStockholmConventiononPersistentOrganicPollutantsisaglobaltreatytoprotecthumanandenvironmentalhealthfromchemicalsthatpersistforalongtimeintheenvironment.GrowthoftheminingindustryandagriculturalsectorintheMRBraisesthelikelihoodofincreasedaccumulationofchemicalcontaminationintheenvironment,whichcouldleadtoharmfulimpactsonwildlifeandhumanpopulations.Kenyaratifiedthison24September,2004andTanzaniaon30April,2004.KenyaandTanzaniahavealsobothdevelopedNationalImplementationPlansfortherecommendationsofthisConvention.

TheConvention for theEstablishmentof theLakeVictoriaFisheriesOrganizationwas ratifiedbyKenyaon24May,1996andTanzaniaaccessionediton23May,1995andratifiedin1996andappliestothefisheriesofLakeVictoriaincludingtheMaraRiver.

TheFAOCodeofConductforResponsibleFisheriesprovidesinternationalguidelinesandstandardsforconservation,managementanddevelopmentof livingaquatic resourcesand theirenvironment.There are other international legal instruments associatedwith this code such as the InternationalPlanofActiononIllegal,Unregulated,andUnreported(IUU)fishingwhichaimsatcombatingIUUfishing.

2.7 International institutional mechanisms for conservation of biodiversityTherearemanyinternationalintergovernmentalorganisations,NGOsanddevelopmentagenciesthatfocus onmanagement of biodiversity and natural resources. These include:AfricanDevelopmentBank (ADB), AfricanWildlife Foundation (AWF), EuropeanUnion (EU), Global EnvironmentalFacility(GEF),NorwegianAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(NORAD),SwedishInternationalDevelopmentAgency (SIDA),UnitedNationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP),UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme (UNEP),UnitedStatesAgency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID).WorldBank,WorldConservationUnion(IUCN),andWWF.ManyoftheseinstitutionsoperateinEastAfricaandsomeofthemhavebeeninvolvedinconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityintheMRB.

2.8 National biodiversity strategies and action plansArticle6oftheCBDobligesPartiestotheCBDtoprepareNationalBiodiversityStrategiesandActionPlans(NBSAPs)toguideimplementationoftherequirementsoftheCBDatnationallevel,andbothKenyaandTanzaniahavedevelopedNBSAPs.TheNBSAPofKenyawasdevelopedin2003whileTanzania’swasprepared in1998.Co-operation in themanagementof trans-boundarybiodiversityresourcesoftheMRBisguidedbytheprovisionsoftheCBDandbytheNBSAPsofthetwocountries.

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2.9 Key biodiversity resources of Kenya and Tanzania ThemajorbiodiversityresourcesofKenyaandTanzaniaincludeecosystems,suchasnaturalforests,woodlands,savannah,aridandsemi-aridareas,wetlands,andopenwaterecosystems,andtheplantandanimallifeintheseecosystemsandtheirgeneticmakeup.Therearealsomodifiedagro-ecosystemsandforestplantations.Thedifferentecosystemsandtheorganismstheycontainhavebothdirectandindirectvaluesasasourceoffood,fuel,shelter,employment,foreignexchangeearningsandtourism.Forests serve as a source ofwood fuel, timber, poles, fibres, fodder, crafts,medicine,wild food,andtourism.Woodlandsprovidebuildingmaterials,fibres,pasture,fodder,medicineandwildfoods.Naturalvegetationincludingforests,woodlandsandgrasslandsplayanimportantroleinmitigatingsoilerosionwhichmaintainsfertilityandreducessedimentationandsiltationofwatercourses.Naturalvegetationalsoactsascarbonsinksandhelpstomitigateglobalwarming.Wildlifeisasourceofbushmeat, trophies, food,andmedicine,andsupports tourism.Wetlandsare important inwaterstorageandrecharge,sedimenttrapping,nutrientcycling,waterpurificationandtreatmentofwastes.Inlandwatersystems(rivers,lakesandwetlands)areasourceoffish,plants(someofwhichareofmedicinalvalue),waterforvarioususes,andrecreation.

BothKenyaandTanzaniahavedesignatedNationalParks,NationalReserves,WildlifeSanctuaries,NationalMonuments,BiosphereReserves,WorldHeritageSites,andRamsarSitesforconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityinmanyareasincludingtheMRB.However,theseareasstillfaceanumberofchallenges.

2.10 Threats to biodiversity resources in Kenya and TanzaniaSomeofthegeneralthreatstobiodiversityinbothKenyaandTanzaniaincludehumanencroachment,habitatdestruction,poaching,over-abstractionofresources,deforestation,pollutionandintroductionofinvasivespeciesandgeneticmaterials.Themainchallengesidentifiedinthemanagementofprotectedareasincludeweaknessesinpolicyandregulatorymechanisms,inadequateinstitutionalarrangementstofostereffectivecollaborationandnetworking,inadequatefinancialresources,anddecliningearningsfrom the tourismsector. Inaddition, therearegaps inbiodiversity research, informationanddata.Thereisalsoinadequatecommunityparticipationinwildlifemanagement.TheNBSAPsofKenyaandTanzaniaarefoundedontheCBDandprovide,AVision,GuidingPrinciples,Strategicobjectives,MethodologiesandActionswhichcanguideconservationofbiodiversityinMRB.

2.11 Regional policies and legal instruments for management of biodiversity

TheEACPartnerStateshavepolicies, legal instrumentsandactionplanswhichcanbeapplied toconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityintheMRB.

TheEACTreatyprovidesforsustainableutilisationofnaturalresourcesthroughmeasuresthatprotecttheenvironment.

The Protocol for Sustainable Development of Lake Victoria Basin provides for protection andconservationofthebasinanditsecosystem,sustainabledevelopmentofnaturalresourcesincludingfisheries,andpreventionofpollution.

The Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources Management provides for cooperation inmanagementoftheenvironmentandnaturalresourcesincludingwaterresources,biologicaldiversity,wetlandresources,forestresources,wildlife,fisheries,andgeneticresources.

The Convention for Establishment of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) provides forharmonizationofmeasuresforthesustainabledevelopmentandmanagementofthelivingresourcesofLakeVictoriaanditsbasin.

TheRegionalPlan toCombat IUUFishingoutlinesmeasures toprevent,deterandeliminate IUUfishing,conservefishspeciesdiversity,andprotecttheenvironmentintheLVB.

BothKenyaandTanzaniahavecommittedthemselvestotheaboveregionallegalinstruments.

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2.12 National policies and legal instruments for management of biodiversity

both Kenya and Tanzania have national policies and legal instruments, which can be applied toconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityinMRB.Thesearecoveredinthenationalconstitutions,developmentplans,sessionpapers,policies,lawsandregulations,especiallythoseonenvironment,land,forestry,water,agriculture,wildlife,andfisheries(Annex1).

The National ConstitutionsTheseprovideformeasurestoprotectandpreservetheenvironmentandnaturalresources,includingbiodiversity.

The National Development Plans and Session PapersMostofthesehaveintegratedenvironmentalconcerns,sustainabledevelopment,andconservationofnaturalresources.

The National Environmental Management ActsThese acts cover cross-sectoral issues, including conservation and sustainablemanagement of theenvironment(includinglakes,rivers,water,wetlands,forests,biodiversity,geneticresources,naturalheritagesites,riverbanksandlakeshores,andsoils),propermanagementofpollutionandairqualitystandards,andprotectionofozonelayer.TheyalsoprovideforEIAsfordevelopmentprojectsthatare likely to impact the environment and natural resources, and give authority to environmentalmanagementauthorities/councilstocoordinateenvironmentalissues.

The Land ActsProvide forownership,planning,managementandadministrationof landusewith involvementofcommunitieswithinthecontextoftheprinciplesofsustainabledevelopment.

The Forest ActsProvide for establishment, control, regulation and sustainable management of forests, protectionandconservationofbiodiversity,establishmentofnature reserves,andEIAs in forestareasbeforedevelopment.

The Water Management Policies and ActsProvideforplanning,use,protectionandmanagementofwaterresourcesandsupply;waterpermits;wastedischarge; effluentdischarge; control ofwater abstraction; apportionment anduseofwater;waterqualitymonitoring,pollutioncontrol;watersupplyandseweragetreatment;andcontainwaterquality standards for different water uses. They also provide for participatory approach to waterresourcesplanning,developmentandmanagement.

The Agriculture and Livestock Policies and ActsProvideforsoilandwaterconservation,goodlandhusbandry,biotechnology,andfoodsecurity.

The Plant Protection ActsProvideforpreventionoftheintroductionandspreadofdestructiveplantdiseases.

The Suppression of Noxious Weed ActsProvideforpowerstodeclareaplanttobeanoxiousweed.

The Wildlife and Tourism Policies and ActsProvide for protection, control, and conservation of biodiversity; management and utilization ofwildlife,includingsustainablemanagementofwildlifecoveringwildplantsandanimals;establishmentandmanagementofwildlifeconservationandprotectedareas;speciesprotection;wildlifeuserrights;andinternationaltradeinwildlife.Theyadvocateforharmonizationoftourism,wildlifeandlandusepoliciesandprovideforcommunityparticipationinmanagementofwildlife.

The Fisheries Policies, Acts and RegulationsProvideforcontroloffishing,optimalandsustainableexploitation,managementanddevelopmentoffisheriesresources,anddevelopmentofaquaculture.

The Precautionary PrincipleRequires that,where thereare threatsofseriousor irreversibleenvironmentaldamage, lackoffullscientificcertaintyshouldnotbeusedasareasonforpostponingmeasurestopreventenvironmentaldegradation.

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Chapter 3: The biodiversity strategy and action plan

This Chapter uses the international, regional and national frameworks for biodiversity conservation to develop the BSAP for MRB including:

a) The Goal for MRB;b) The Objectives of the BSAP;c) The Guiding Principles for the actions to be undertaken;d) The methodology; ande) The activities to be undertaken.

3.1 The need for the Biodiversity Strategy and Action PlanTheEACinitiatedaprocesstomanagesharedtrans-boundarynaturalresourceswhenitsignedtheProtocolforEnvironmentandNaturalResourcesManagementtoguidemanagementofsharedtrans-boundary resources such as thoseof theMRB.TheMRBBSAPhasbeendeveloped in linewiththisprotocol,theprovisionsoftheEACTreaty(especiallyArticles111,112and114),theProtocolforSustainableDevelopmentofLakeVictoriaBasin (especiallyArticles6and7), and theLVBCOperational Strategy 2007 to 2010, under the Environment and Natural Resources ManagementProgramme.

ThepreparationoftheBSAPwasinrecognitionoftheneedfornewapproachestosocial,political,economic,andenvironmentalchallenges.ThestakeholdersareawareofthesechallengesandwerefullyengagedindevelopingthisBSAP.Theywillalsoberesponsibleforitsimplementationwithinatrans-boundaryresourcemanagementcontext.

The primary thesis of this BSAP is thatmanagement strategies that promote survival of species,biologicalcommunitiesandecologicalprocessesareakeyelementinconservationoftrans-boundaryresourcestomeetdiversehumanneeds.PrimarymanagementgoalswillbesetbythecommunitiesandharmonisedattheregionallevelbytheEAC.Thesettingoffurthergoalsmaybesite-specificby the individual Partner States, taking account of the context of the ecosystem within nationalcontext.Highqualityinformationisnecessarytoidentifytrendsandrespondtothemintelligentlyanddeliberately.Thesocial,politicalandenvironmentalissueswillbeviewedinasystemscontext,andnotasindividualissues.

3.2 Overall goal for MRBThegoalfortheBSAPforMRBisbasedonthesharedvisionoftheLakeVictoriaBasinwhichaimsathaving:“Aprosperouspopulationlivinginahealthyandsustainablymanagedenvironmentprovidingequitableopportunitiesandbenefits”.

TheoverallGoalforMRBis tohave“aregionrichinbiodiversitywhichbenefits thepresentandfuturegenerationsandecosystemfunctions”.

3.3 Objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan The overall objective of the BSAP forMRB is to conserve biodiversity throughmaintenance ofecosystemintegrityoftheMRBwhichwillbeachievedthroughthefollowingspecificobjectives:

a) PromotejointmanagementoftheMRBtrans-boundaryecosystemandconservationofitsbiodiversity;

b) Promotetheroleofprotectedareasinconservationofbiodiversity;c) Buildsustainablerurallivelihoodsthroughpromotionofecosystemintegrityasabasisfor

biodiversityconservation;

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d) Provide the foundation forconcertedactiononbiodiversitymanagementandsustainabledevelopment;and

e) Promotetheuseofstrategic,science-basedinformationforbiodiversityconservation.

3.4 Guiding principles for the BSAP in MRBAddressingoftheissues,problemsandchallengesofbiodiversityconservationandmanagementintheMRBwillbeguidedbytheprinciplesoutlinedbelow.

LinkingtheBSAPtothewidergovernment,regionalandinternationalpoliciesandlegalinstruments

TheconservationstrategiesinKenyaandTanzania,complementedbythosestipulatedbytheEACandinvariousinternationalconventions,treaties,protocols,andagreements,focusoninterventionsthatminimizelossofbiodiversity.Capacitybuildingiscriticalforbettermanagementofbiodiversityasisenhancedinvolvementofthecommunityinplanning,implementation,monitoringandevaluationofinterventions.

Multi-sectorprogrammaticapproachtoimplementationoftheBSAP

Biodiversity conservation and management relies upon and impacts virtually all sectors of theeconomy.TheproposedinterventionsinthisBSAPwillinvolveparticipationofvarioussectorssuchas agriculture, livestock development, forestry,water, fisheries, tourism,wildlife, transport, trade,education,andresearch.

Coordinationofinterventions

OneofthemajorobstaclestobiodiversityconservationintheMRBhasbeenpoorcoordinationofinterventionseitherwithinorbetweenthetwocountriesandbetweenthedifferentplayers.TheLVBChasthemandateforcoordinationofbiodiversityconservationandmanagementalthoughthiscouldbedelegatedtoaninstitutionwithintheMRBtofocusinterventionsatatechnicallevel.

Sustainabilitythroughstakeholderinvolvementandownership

TherehasbeenpreviousdonorandgovernmentsupportforbiodiversityconservationinitiativesintheMRB.Thishassometimesresultedinaddressingdonor-specificinterests,short-termapproachesandlackofownershipoftheinterventions.ThisBSAPaimstoestablishmechanismsthatwouldensuresustainabilitythroughpoolingandallocationofpublicresourcesinaconsistentmanner,aswellasdrawingonprivatecapitalwherepossible.Secondly,communityownershipandparticipationwillbepromotedatallstagesofimplementationoftheBSAP.

Cognizanceofscarceresources

Theconservationofbiodiversitytoalevelthatensuresinter-generationalequityrequireshugefinancialresources. However, there has not been any deliberate effort or clearly defined and coordinatedapproachtofundingbiodiversityconservationinitiatives,norhastherebeenthedevelopmentofanyclearimplementationmechanisms.TherewillbeneedfordeliberateinfusionofresourcestoimplementtheobjectivesoftheBSAPandtodevelopmechanismstoharmonizeandcoordinatetheinterventionsinordertominimizeduplicationofeffortsandwasteofresources.

Maintainingalong-termperspective

Thegenerallong-termobjectivesforconservationofbiodiversityhavebeencapturedintheCBDwhichhasbeenadoptedandinstitutionalizedbyKenyaandTanzaniaintheirNBSAPs.TheseobjectivesalsohavebeenadoptedandappropriatelylinkedinpreparationofthisBSAP.

Pursuanceandsupportofdiversifiedlivelihoods

EradicatingpovertybysupportingdiversifiedlivelihoodsintheMRBisessentialtoachievesuccessinbiodiversityconservation.Itiscriticaltogivedueattentiontothepoorsincetheirunplannedactionstoearnalivingfrombiodiversityresourcescanleadtoitsdegradation.

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3.5 Approaches and methodology to development of the BSAP for MRBThisBSAPfocusesonthreecriticalhabitatsintheMRB(Figure3.1)namely:

a) TheforesthabitatscomprisingMauForestandMarariverineforest;b) TheSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystems;andc) TheAquaticecosystemscomprisingMaraRiverandMaraSwamp.

ThefocusesoftheBSAParebasedontheactualandpotentialactivitiesintheMRBthatmayimpactbiodiversitysuchasuncontrolledandunplannedutilizationofnaturalresources(land,water,animals,plants, and mineral resources), pollution, mining, road construction, and genetic modification oforganismsthatmayleadtobiodiversitylossorextinctionofspecies.Atleastoneobjectivehasbeenidentifiedforeachhabitat,andatleastoneactivityisplannedforeachobjectivetomeetthebiodiversityconservationrequirements.Thesewillbeadjustedovertime.

3.6 Objectives for the forested habitatsThemainobjectiveoftheBSAPistoprotectMauForestresourcesandMaraRiverineForeststhroughimplementationofthefollowingspecificobjectives:

a) Protect,maintainandenhancethehealthandproductivityofforestsandtheirbiodiversity;b) Provide a balance of natural resource benefits and uses, including opportunities for

commercialforestproduction;c) Protectcertainforestlandsfromexploitationtoprotectuniqueriparianandwatercatchment

areas;d) Understand and explain the effect of various forest utilization methods on biological

diversity;e) Minimizechangesthatwouldleadtolossofbiodiversityduringutilizationoftheforest;f) Encourage and promote activities and utilization methods that sustain and protect

biodiversity;g) Developindicatorstomeasurethequantitativeandqualitativelevelsofforestryinfluences

onbiologicaldiversity;andh) Buildthecapacityofresponsibleinstitutions.

3.7 Objectives for Serengeti-Masai Mara EcosystemTheprimaryobjectiveoftheBSAPforSerengeti-MasaiMaraEcosystemistointegrateprotectionofbiodiversitywithinandaroundthisecosystemwithsustainabledevelopmentanduseofresourcesthroughimplementationofthefollowingspecificobjectives:

a) Integrationofbiodiversityprotectionintoasystemofconsumptiveresourceutilization;b) In-situconservationofgeneticresources;andc) Mitigationofrisksposedbygeneticallymodifiedorganisms.

3.8 Objectives for aquatic habitatsTheoverallobjectiveoftheBSAPinaquatichabitatsistoimprovewaterandotheraquaticresourcesmanagementinthebasin,andtobalanceresourceconservationwithresourceuseanddevelopmentthroughthefollowingspecificobjectives:

a) Preventormitigatelanddegradationinordertominimizesedimentandorganicpollutantloads;

b) Promoteimprovementinwatermanagementschemes;c) Enhancelinkagesforimprovedwaterresourcemanagement;d) Utilizenaturalfishstockswhilesustainingthebiodiversityofthewaterbodies;e) Utilizefishfarmingforprotectionofendangeredfishspeciesandbiotopes;andf) Mitigateandavoidnegativeimpactsoffishfarming.

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3.9 Activities to be undertaken under different objectivesTheactivitiestobeundertakenunderthedifferentobjectiveswillfallunderthecategoriesoutlinedbelow.Thecategoryofeachactivityhasbeenindicatedbyaletterwhichidentifiesthecategory.

a) Legislativeandinstitutionalchanges(L);b) Economicmeasures(E);c) Technicalmeasures(includinginvestment(T);d) Education,information,awarenessraising(A);ande) Appliedresearch(R).

Someactivitiesareprovidedforeachoftheobjectivesofthethreecriticalhabitats.However,duringimplementationoftheBSAP,moredetailedandspecificactivitiesmaybeneededforeachhabitattocaptureissuesinmoredetailandtoprovidecleareroutputs.

3.10 Activities for objectives in forested habitatsObjective:ToprotectMauForestresourcesandMarariverineforests

i.Enhancethefightagainstillegalfellingoftrees(L);ii.Controlillegalextractionofforestproducts(L);iii.Adoptmanagementplansforallprotectedindigenousforests(L);iv. Protectpresentlyunprotectedindigenousforests(L);v. IntegratebiodiversityconservationinForestActsCBD(L);vi. Enforceexistinglaws(L);vii.Reallocatepartofproductlicensefeestoforestprotection(E);

Figure 3.1: Key biodiversity sites classified in Mara River Basin

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viii.Providecompensationforeconomiclossfollowingprotectionofforests(E);ix. Exchangerealprivatepropertyandimplementstatepurchaseprivilege(usingcompulsory

acquisitionlaw)inextremelythreatened,unprotectedforests(T);x. Empower the local communities with knowledge, skills and facilities for conservation-

friendlyagroforestry(T);xi. Explainthevalueofindigenousforests(A);xii.Promotecommunityconservationawarenessandeducation(A);xiii.Improveexchangeofinformationbetweengovernmentandlocalcommunities(A);xiv.Identifybiodiversityindicatorsanddeterminemeanstomonitorthem(R);xv.Determinetheneedsandmethodsofprotectingbiodiversityinprotectedforests(R);xvi.Improvemethodsforprotectingforestresources(R);xvii.Evaluatetheroleofprotectedforestsinprotectionofbiodiversity(R);xviii.Determine communityknowledge, attitudes andpractices regarding illegaloff-takeof

productsfromnewlyprotectedforests(R);xix.Analyzethelocationandcoverageofforestprotectedareasfromthepointofviewofnature

conservationrepresentation(R);xx.Analyzeforestconservationsystemplanning(R);xxi.Determinethenumberofvisitorstoprotectedforestsandusetheresultsforformulationof

anappropriatedevelopmentprogram(R);xxii.Analyzetourismpotentialsanduseofforests(R);xxiii.Analyzealternativesofadministrativemanagementofprotectedforestsandformulatean

optimaleconomicsolution(R);xxiv.Analyzetheeffectivenessofprotectedforestmanagement(R);xxv.Analyzepossibleusesofeconomicinstrumentsforimprovingprotectionofbiodiversityin

protectedforestsandprotectionoftheinterestsofthestakeholdersandelaborateappropriateguidelines(R);and

xxvi. Analyze alternative economic incentives and compensation schemes for improvingconservationofforests(R).

3.11 Activities for objectives in Serengeti-Maasai Mara EcosystemObjective(a):Integrationofbiodiversityconservationintoasystemofconsumptiveresourceutilization

i. Integratetherequirementsandgoalsofsustainableuseandprotectionofbiologicaldiversityintonationalhuntinglaws(L);

ii. Preparemanagementplansforlargecarnivores,(L);iii.Observehuntingregulationsandconditionsspecifictoparticulartypesofanimals(L);iv. Issuehuntingpermitsonthebasisofspeciesandpopulationsizeofaspecies(E);v. Reallocatepartwildlifelicensefeesforbiodiversityprotection(E);vi. Provide economic incentives to stimulate hunting of over-abundant populations of less

charismaticspecies(E);vii.Usebiotechnologicaldevelopmenttoproducevarietieswhicharebeneficialtomansuchas

improvingfodderproductioninthesavannah)(T);viii.Conductfieldtraininginbiodiversity(A);ix. Identifyindicatorsofhuntingandpoachingonbiodiversity(R);x. Identifytheeffectofvariouslandmanagementregimesonbiodiversity(R);andxi. Studytheecology,managementandprotectionoflargepredators(R).

Objective(b):In-situconservationofgeneticresources

i. Propose policies and laws for creation, preservation and maintenance of collections ofgeneticresourcesandonprovisionofaccesstoandexchangeofgeneticresourceswiththirdparties(L);

ii. EstablishaMRBplantandanimalgeneticresourcescollectioncentre(L);iii. Supportthepreservationofprivatecollectionswhicharevaluabletobiodiversity(E);iv. Proposemechanismsforaccessingstatesupportforbringingsamplesofgeneticmaterialof

MRBorigin,whichareheldabroadbacktoMRB(E);

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v. Createex-situgene-banksforendangeredMRBanimalbreedsandplantvarieties(T);vi. StrengthenexchangeofinformationongeneticresourcesbetweenKenyaandTanzania(A);vii.Trainingpersonnelincollectionandmaintenanceofgeneticcollections(A);viii.PrepareandpublishinformationonplantandanimalgeneticresourcesofMRB(A);ix. Develop information and data communication systems on compilation andmaintenance

ofgenetic resourcecollectionsandmakeavailable informationabout these resources forscientificresearchandtothegeneralpublic(A);and

x. CarryoutasurveyoftheconditionofexistinggeneticresourcecollectionsinMRBandthemeansrequiredtopreservethem(R)

Objective(c):Mitigaterisksposedbygeneticallymodifiedorganisms

i. ProposeregulationsonintroductionofGMOsintotheenvironment(L);ii. ProvideStatesupportfortheparticipationofMRBspecialistsininternationalprojectson

geneticdiversity(T);iii. CarryoutstudiesoneconomicimpactofintroductionofGMOsintotheenvironment(E);iv. Conducttrainingingeneticresourcesandbiotechnologyforspecialistsinbiodiversity(A);v. Establishandmaintainadatabaseonbiotechnologiesandtheirenvironmentalriskstocreate

aninformationsystemandmakeitaccessibletothegeneralpublic(A);vi. Promote participation of MRB’s biodiversity players in international research on the

developmentofsafebiotechnologies(A);vii.Assesstheimpactofbiotechnologiesonbiodiversity(R);andviii.Surveyoptionsforapplicationofbiotechnologiesintreatmentofpollution.

3.12 Activities for objectives in Aquatic HabitatsObjective(a):Preventormitigatelanddegradationinordertominimizesedimentandorganicpollutantloads.

i. DevelopandenforceMaraRiverprotectionregulations(L);ii. InitiateintegratedMaraRiverprotectionplansincludinggoodlandusepractices(L);iii.Applyeconomicincentivesanddisincentivestopromotegoodlandusepractices(E);iv. Establishandimplementthereserveflowtoensurethatwaterneedsofhabitatsandspecies

aremet(T);v. Measureflows,establishoff-take,quality,assesswaterneeds,drawwaterbudget,setup

waterpaymentsystems(T);vi. Supportextensionworkongoodlandusepractices(T);vii.Conducteducationprogramsthatminimizelanddegradationproblems(A);andviii. Monitor water quality, quantity and impact of sediment and organic pollutants on

biodiversity(R).

Objective(b):Encourageimprovementinwatermanagementschemes

i. Promotebilateralcooperationinprotectionandsustainableuseofwater(L);ii. Developformalandinformalconflictmanagementandproceduralmechanisms(L);iii.Adoptrealisticwaterpricingpolicies(E);iv. Encourageuseofbettertechnologiessuchasmicro-irrigationinwateruse(T);v. Improvetheinformationbaseforsustainablewatermanagement(A);vi. Conductawarenesscampaignsandeducationprogramonsustainableuseofwater(A);vii.ConductafullevaluationofthehydrologicalbalanceoftheMaraRiverSystem(R);viii.Monitorandevaluatepoliciesandprocedurestointegratemanagementofwaterwithland

uses,andmanagementofwaterdemand(R);andix. EvaluatethetotaleconomicvalueofMRBwaterresources(R).

Objective(c):Enhancelinkagesforimprovedwaterresourcemanagement

i. Integratewaterresourcesmanagementbetweendifferentsectors(L);ii. Establishcommunalwatermanagementinstitutions(L);iii. Providebudgetstofacilitatelinkagesandcoordination(E);

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iv. Establish cross-sectoral mechanisms for integrated water management, including publicinput(T);

v. Useparticipatoryplanningwhichdrawsheavilyonpeople’sknowledgeoflandandwaterintheirimmediatelocality(A);and

vi. Assess the effectiveness of cooperation in integratedmanagement ofwater resources inimprovingwaterquantityandqualityanditseffectonbiodiversity(R).

Objective(d):Utilizationofnaturalfishstockswhilesustainingthebiologicaldiversityofwaterbodies.

i. IncorporatebiodiversityprotectioninthefisheriespoliciesandplansofKenyaandTanzania(L);

ii. Adaptfishinglicensefeesasameasureforregulatingfishingintensity(L);iii. Enhancecompliancetofishingregulations(L);iv. Reallocatepartoffishinglicensefeestobiodiversityprotection(E);v. Promotesubsidiestoencourageuseofsustainablefishingmethods(E);vi. Applysustainablefishingmethods(T);vii.Provideprintedmaterialsintroducingwaterbiotopesandtheirprotectionformanagement

offisheries(A);viii.PrepareasimplifiedhandbookonthefishesofMRB(A);ix. Publishafishingmagazine,electronicmediaandpublicforums(A);x. Conductfishstockassessment;establishmaximumsustainableyieldandremovalratesof

fishfordifferentfishingmethodsindifferentconditions(R);xi. Compilefishinggearusedanddeterminegearselectivity(R);xii.Develop monitoring indicators of aquatic biodiversity and include them in the MRB

monitoringprogram(R);andxiii.Encourageadoptionofsustainablefishingmethods(R).

Objective(e):Applicationoffishfarmingforprotectionofendangeredfishspeciesandbiotopes.

i. Elaborateregionalandnationalprogramsforrenewaloffishstocksconsideringbiodiversity,includingintra-speciesvariations(L);

ii. Supportconservationofendangeredlocalfishspeciesthroughfishculture(E);iii. Conduct public awareness on the importance of a high species diversity, threats to rare

speciesandtheirroleinendangerment(A);iv. Undertakeaninventoryofthefishcommunityandtheirenvironmentalneeds(R);v. Conductgeneticresearchrelatedtofishstocks(R);andvi. Createadatabaseandmonitoringplanforintroducedandinvasivefishspecies(R).

Objective(f):Mitigationandavoidanceofnegativeimpactsof/onfishfarming.

i. Definesanctionsandpenaltyforintroductionofalienspecies(L);ii. Regulatewaterdiversionforfishfarming(L);iii. Providemarketingavenuesforculturedfishes(E);iv. Modernizefishfarmingtoavoidtheescapeofrearedspecimens,introducemoreefficient

lowcostmethodsoffishfarming(T);v. CollateanddisseminateinformationonimpactsofalienspeciesinMRB(A);andvi. MonitorexistenceandspreadofalienspeciesandtheirimpactonlocalecosystemsinMRB

waterbodies(R).

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Chapter 4: Implementation mechanism for the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

This Chapter proposes the implementation mechanism for the BSAP including:a) International and Regional Institutions;b) National Institutions;c) Local institutions;d) NGOs, CBOs and private individuals;e) The Funding mechanisms;f) Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting

4.1 International and regional institutionsTheEACPartnerStateshaveagreedtocooperateinthemanagementandsustainabledevelopmentofsharednaturalresourcesundertheEACTreaty,theProtocolforSustainableDevelopmentofLakeVictoria Basin and the Protocol on Environment and Natural ResourcesManagement. The LakeVictoriaBasinCommissionwasestablishedtoimplementtheProtocolforSustainableDevelopmentoftheLVB,andisresponsibleforcoordinatingtheactionsofnationalandlocalorganizationsandstakeholders. As such, the LVBC will be the primary regional body responsible for guiding theimplementation of theBSAP for theMRB. LVBC’s responsibilities includemobilising resourcesfortheimplementationoftheBSAP,coordinatingtheactivitiesofvariousactorsontheground,andconductingmonitoringandevaluationoftheimplementedactivities.

In2008,theMRBTrans-boundaryWaterUsersForum(TWUF)wasestablishedtoprovideaforumforwaterusersfrombothKenyaandTanzaniainwhichtheycouldparticipateinplanningandmanagementofthewaterresourcesfortheMRB.TheTWUFalsoservesasaplatformfordialogueondevelopmentandconservationofsharedwaterresourcesoftheMRB.Assuch,theTWUFshouldbeengagedintheimplementationofBSAPthroughcoordinationofwaterresourceuseanddevelopment,particularlyinregardstoconservationofaquatichabitats.TheMaraRegionalSecretariat(MRS)isalsoanticipatedtobeformedinthenearfuture,whichwillbecomprisedofrepresentativesfromtheMarasecretariatsofbothKenyaandTanzaniatoprovideatrans-boundaryforumofallmajorstakeholdersintheMRB,includingrepresentativesfromthetribesdwellingintheMauForest,thesmallandlargescalefarmers,thetouristlodges,miningandotherindustries,andartisanalfishers,amongothers.TheMRSwillberesponsibleforeducatingandawarenessraisingofstakeholdersinthebasinontheBSAPfortheMRBandforencouragingsustainabledevelopmentanduseofthebasin’snaturalresources.

4.2 National institutionsTheministriesresponsibleforenvironment,waterandnaturalresources(includingwildlife,forestryandagriculture)willplayaleadingroleinimplementingtheBSAP.InKenya,theMinistryresponsibleforEnvironmentandNaturalResources,astheFocalPointMinistryfortheEAC,willbeinchargeofcoordinatingimplementationoftheBSAPwithtechnicallyrelevantsectorministriesandagencies.InTanzania,theMinistryinchargeofWaterandIrrigation,whichistheFocalPointMinistry,willplayasimilarrole.ThetechnicalsectorMinistriesandDepartments,suchasAgriculture,Livestock,WaterDevelopment,Tourism,Industry,Fisheries,WildlifeandForestry,willberesponsiblefordeterminingwhichpriorityactivitiesoftheBSAPfallwithintheirmandatesandforincorporatingtheseactivitiesintotheirpoliciesandprogramsincollaborationwithotherstakeholders.

NationalsecretariatsfortheMarahavealsobeendevelopedforbothKenyaandTanzania,whicharecomprisedofrepresentativesfromallstakeholdergroupsinthebasin.TheseforawillberesponsibleforeducatingstakeholdersintheirportionofthebasinabouttheBSAPandforpromotingadoptionofrecommendationsandactivitiesoftheBSAPintoongoingmanagementplansinthebasin.

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4.3 Local institutionsThe Ministries responsible for Local Government will be in charge of implementation of the BSAPbasedon theirmandates in individualPartnerStates.TheDistrictCouncil inTanzaniaand theDistrictEnvironmentalCommitteeinKenyawillbetheprimaryimplementingagentsandwillbethefocalpointsonthegroundforincorporatingactivitiesintotheirDistrictworkplans,forguidingactivityimplementation(suchassiteselection,communityinvolvementandmonitoringandevaluation),andforensuringfollow-upondatacollectingandreporting.

The added value of establishingTechnicalAdvisoryCommittees (TAC) in the implementation of thisBSAPshouldberecognized.TheTACforMRBhasalreadybeenestablishedatthebasinlevel.TheTACwasformedtoestablishjointapproachestoconservationandmanagementofnaturalresourcesinthebasinandtopresentaunifiedmessagetostakeholdersinthebasininregardstoriparianprotection,sustainablegrazinglevels,bestmanagementpracticesforagricultureandlivestockandsoilandwaterconservationpractices. Through participation in activity planning, the TAC will provide locally relevant technicalguidanceonthemostappropriatewaystoimplementvariousactivitiesundertheBSAP.

At thegrassroots level,waterusersassociationsare registeredentitieswithamandate toparticipate inmanagementofwaterresourcesinthebasin.TheywillworkcloselywiththeWaterResourceManagementAuthorityinKenyaandtheBasinWaterOfficeinTanzaniatoensurethatwaterpermitsandallocationinthebasinallowsforthepreservationofreserveflows.Theywillalsoberesponsibleformonitoringandreportingonthestatusofwaterresourcesinthebasin.

4.4. NGOs, CBOs and Private IndividualsOtherinternationalorganizationswillbeinvolvedprimarilyassourcesoffundingandtechnicalexpertise.WWF-ESARPO, NBI-NELSAP and others are long-term conservation partners on the ground, whoseexpertise in implementingconservationactivitieswillbecritical to the successof theBSAP.ResearchinstitutionsbothwithintheregionandfromothercountrieswillbeimportantpartnersneededtoconductthenecessaryresearchforimplementationoftheBSAPandtotrainlocalauthoritiesintechnicalskillstopromotelong-termsustainabilityofprojectinterventions.

4.5 Funding implementation of the BSAPSuccessfulimplementationofthisBSAPdependsontheacquisitionofadequateresources.Astheprimarycoordinating institution responsible for the implementation of the BSAP, LVBC should catalyze themobilizationofnecessaryresources.Theseresourcesshallbemobilizedfromnationalsectoralbudgets,bilateral andmultilateral donors and the private sector. Organizations such as BMZ,NORAD, SIDA,USAIDandothersaredonororganizationswithalonghistoryofsupportingconservationandsustainabledevelopmentintheMRB,andthesupportoftheseorganizationswillbecriticalinprovidingthefundingtocarryouttherecommendedstrategiesandactionplans.

4.6 Monitoring, evaluation and reportingImplementationoftheBSAPfortheMRBwillrequireregularmonitoringandevaluationoftheprogressofthedifferentplannedactivities,whichwillbebasedonpredeterminedperformanceindicators.ThisBSAPhas beenwritten to elucidate a general strategy and approach to conserve critical biodiversity habitatsthroughouttheMRB.Detailedworkplanswillneedtobedevelopedbytheresponsibleactorsforeachpriorityactivity,andtheseworkplanswillincludealistofmeasurableperformanceindicatorsintermsofquantity,qualityandtimeframe.Theimplementingactorswillberesponsibleforconductingon-the-groundmonitoring,evaluationandreportingofactivitiesandindicatorstoLVBC,astheoverallcoordinatingbody.

ItisexpectedthatthegovernmentsofKenyaandTanzania,theEACandotherstakeholderswillbuildontherecommendationsmadeinthisBSAPtocreateavibrantandeffectiveintellectualandmoralframeworkto support the conservation andmanagement of biodiversity resources. ThisBSAP is an adaptive anddynamicdocument,and therewillbeacontinuousneed for improvedunderstanding,developmentandevaluationof the knowledgeof biodiversity conservation and socioeconomicpolicy interface, aswellasestablishmentoffeedbackloopsinitsimplementation.Thisprocesswillalsosupportdevelopmentofbiodiversityactionplansorinitiativesinothertrans-boundaryecosystemswithintheLVB.

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Annex: Some of the biodiversity related policies, laws and plans of Kenya and Tanzania

Kenya(i) Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965: African Socialism and its Application to Planning in

Kenya (GoK 1965) recognized that the future development of Kenya depended on theimplementationofstrategiesdesignedtoconservenaturalresourceswhilecreatingaphysicalenvironmentinwhichprogresscouldbemade.

(ii)SessionalPaperNo.1of1986:EconomicRecoveryforRenewedDevelopment(iii)NationalDevelopment Plan 1994-1997: Thiswas the first plan prepared after Rio and

dedicatedtointegrationofenvironmentalconcernsinalldevelopmentactivitiestowardsthesustainabledevelopmentobjective.

(iv)SessionalPaperNo.1of1994:RecoveryandSustainableDevelopmenttotheYear2010(GoK1994)inwhichthegovernmentaddressedtheemergingissuesonenvironmentanddevelopment. Since most policies were sectoral, the government identified the need todevelopaspecificpolicyaddressingenvironmentalissues.

(v)NationalEnvironmentActionPlan(NEAP)(GoK1994)(vi)Sessional Paper No. 6 of 1999: Policy Paper on Environment and Development. (GoK

1999).Thispolicypaperattemptstoprovideguidelinesforachievingsustainablenationaldevelopment. It also underpins the vital role the environment plays in sustainabledevelopment.ItwasalsocatalytictothedevelopmentoftheEnvironmentalManagementandCoordinationAct.

(vii)NationalBiodiversity Strategy andAction Plan (NBSAP) (GoK 2000): The documentidentifiesthenecessarystepstoconservebiodiversityinconformitywithrequirementsoftheCBD.Kenya’sNationalBiodiversityStrategyandActionPlan(NBSAP)waspreparedin1993.Thisstrategyspecifiesthetrendsandprioritygoalsofenvironmentalmanagementandprotection,andsetsthemainshort-termandlong-termtaskstobeachieved.Theprioritiespresented in the strategy are taken into accountwhenplanning environmental activities,developinginternationalco-operationandallocatingnationalfunds.

(viii) EnvironmentManagement andCoordinationAct 1999 (GoK 1999),which came intoeffecton14thJanuary2000:TheNationalEnvironmentalManagementAuthority(NEMA)was established through the Environment Management and Coordination Act (1999).NEMAplaysacoordinationrolebetweenGovernment,Ministries,departmentsandotherrelevantinstitutionsastheyrelatetotheenvironment.Itsotherfunctionsincludedevelopingstrategies, monitoring and evaluation of development activities. Environmental ImpactAssessment(EIA)ismandatoryundertheActforallnewprojectswhichimpactinsomewayontheirsurroundings.NEMAisthecustodianofallinternationalenvironmentalconventionsandprotocols.TheDepartmentofResourceSurveyandRemoteSensing(DRSRS),whichfallsunderNEMA,ismandatedtogatherinformation,includingdataonlivestock,wildlife,infrastructure,agriculture,forestryandothervegetations,andvariouslanduses.

(ix)NationalWaterPolicy(GoK2000):ProvidesaframeworkforsustainablewaterresourcesmanagementinKenya.

(x)NationalTourismPolicy(GoK2006):Wasdevelopedtocaterfortheincreasedconcernforenvironmentalprotection,followingtheadoptionofAgenda21forthetravelandtourismindustry.Theneedtoharmonizetourism,wildlifeandland-usepoliciesisalsocrucialforconsistencybetween tourismandwildlife conservation, and tominimizehuman-wildlifeconflict.

(xi)WaterAct (GoK2002) enacted for the coordinationof all development activities in thewater sector includingconservation, control, apportionmentanduse,monitoringof riverregimes,pollutioncontrolandwaterquality.

(xii) Agricultural Act Cap 318 Laws ofKenya as revised in 1986. ThisAct promotes andmaintains stable agriculture, provides for soil and water conservation and good landhusbandryandmanagement.Biotechnologyinagriculturaldevelopmentiskeytoincreasedfoodproductionandfoodsecurity.

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(xiii) Sessional Paper No. 3 of 1975: Statement on FutureWildlifeManagement Policy inKenya.Itstipulatesthatitisimportanttoprotectcriticalhabitatsandsecuremigratoryroutesofanimalsoutsideprotectedareas(GoK1975).

(xiv)Wildlife(Conservation&Management)(Amendment)ActNo.16of1989,Cap376LawsofKenya.ThisActprovidesfortheprotection,conservation,managementandutilizationofwildlife(faunaandflora)inallareasofKenya.

(xv)SeedandPlantVarietiesAct(1991),Cap326providesfortherightofaplantbreederwhohastheauthoritytoproducepropagatingmaterialofthevarietyforcommercialpurposes.

(xvi)FisheriesAct1977,Cap378LawsofKenya,thepurposeofwhichistoprotectfisheriesresourcesandprovidefortheproperexploitationoffisheryresources

(xvii)PlantProtectionAct1979,Cap324LawsofKenya,thepurposeofwhichistopreventtheintroductionandspreadofdestructivediseasestoplants

(xviii) IndustrialPropertyAct1990Cap509LawsofKenya,provides for thepromotionofinventiveandinnovativeactivityandfacilitatestheacquisitionoftechnologythroughthegrantandregulationofpatents,utilitymodels,rationalizationmodelsandindustrialdesigns.

(xix)SuppressionofNoxiousWeedsAct1983Cap379LawsofKenya,providestheMinisterwithpowertodeclareaplanttobeanoxiousweedinanyareaorinthewholeofKenya.

(xx)ScienceandTechnologyAct1977Cap250LawsofKenya, thepurposeofwhichis toestablishmachineryformakingavailabletotheGovernmentadviceuponallmattersrelatingtoscientificandtechnologicalactivitiesandresearchnecessaryforproperdevelopmentoftherepublicofKenya,andforthecoordinationofresearchandexperimentaldevelopment.

(xxi)ForestAct979Cap385LawsofKenya,whichprovidesfortheestablishment,controlandregulationofforestestate,andsustainableforestmanagementinKenya.

(xxii)LandPlanningAct,Cap303,LawsofKenya,makesprovisionfortheplanninganduseoflandinKenya.ThisActpromotespublicparticipationinthepreparationofplansgivingproperconsiderationtothepotentialforeconomicandsocialdevelopment.

(xxiii)MinistryofLocalGovernmenthas amandate toplan for themanagementofnaturalresourcesintheirjurisdictiononbehalfoftheresidentlocalcommunity.TheMinistryofEnergyisresponsibleformineral-basedenergyandrenewableenergyinthecountry.TheMinistryplaysamajorroleinmanagementofnaturalresourcessinceabout80%oftheruralpopulationdependsonfuelwoodfortheirdomesticenergyrequirements.

(xxiv)Kenyaresearchandacademicinstitutions(e.g.nationaluniversities)mandatedtocarryoutresearchintheirareaofspecialization.

(xxv)LocalNGOswithamandatetoprotectbiodiversitysuchasEastAfricanWildlifeSociety(EAWS),KenyaForestryWorkingGroup(KFWG),andKenyaWetlandsWorkingGroup(KWWG).

(xxvi)LocalCBOswhosemain concern isbenefit sharing fromsustainablemanagementofnaturalresourceslikeforests,wildlifeandwateraswellasrehabilitationofdegradedareas.

Tanzania(i) WildlifeConservationAct,No.12of1973:ThisActmakesprovisionfortheprotection,

conservation,development, regulationsandcontrolofFaunaandFaunaproductsandformattersincidentaltheretoandconnectedwiththisAct.

(ii)WildlifeActs,No12of1974:ThisactrestrictsthegrazingofanylivestockingamereservewithoutthewrittenpermissionoftheDirector.

(iii)WildlifePolicy, 1998:TheTanzaniawildlifepolicyvision for thewildlife sector is to;promote conservation of biological diversity, administer, regulate and develop wildliferesources, involveall stakeholders inwildlifeconservationandsustainableutilisation,aswellasinfairandequitablesharingofbenefits,promotesustainableutilisationofwildliferesources,raisethecontributionofthewildlifesectorincountry’sGrossDomesticProduct(GDP)fromabout2%to5%,contributetopovertyalleviationandimprovethequalityoflifeofthepeopleofTanzania,and,promoteexchangeofrelevantinformationandexpertisenationally,regionallyandinternationally,

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(iv)National EnvironmentManagementAct, 1983: TheNational EnvironmentManagementCouncil was created to advise government on all environmental matters, formulateenvironmental policies, coordinate institutions and evaluate proposed policies andenvironmentalstandards

(v)National Parks Policy, 1994: This policy encourages protection of National Parks andtourism.

(vi)ForestPolicy,1998:Thepolicydetailsthemannerinwhichtheforestandtreeresourceswouldbemanagedsustainablytomeettheneedsanddesiresofthesocietyandnation.

(vii)ForestActs,2002:TheForestAct,2002,notonlyreplaces the1957ForestOrdinance,butalsotheExportofTimberOrdinance(Cap.288)andGrassFiresOrdinance(Cap.135).Themostsignificantchangesareconcernedwithbiodiversityconservationandcommunityforest management. Biodiversity protection is included throughout the Act. Provisionismade forestablishmentofa fundwhich includes thepurposeofassistingTanzania tobenefitfrominternationalinitiativesandfundsforbiodiversityconservation.Environmentalimpactassessmentsarerequiredinforestedareasandwatershedsforcertaindevelopments.Nationalforestreservesmaybedeclaredasnatureforestreservestomaintainandenhancebiodiversityandgeneticresources.Outsidethereserves,conservationoftreesincludesbothprotectionofnaturalwatersuppliesandbiodiversity;andprovisionismadeforprotectionofwildplantsandanimalslistedinthegovernmentgazette.Sovereigntyover“biologicalresources,theirderivativeproductsandintangiblecomponents”isalsoaffirmed.

(viii)FisheriesPolicyandStrategy,1997:TheNationalFisheries sectorpolicyand strategystatement was adopted in December 1997. The statement focuses on the promotion ofsustainable exploitation,utilization andmarketing toprovide food, income, employmentforeign exchange earnings and effective protection of aquatic environment to sustaindevelopment.TheoverallgoaloftheNationalFisheriesPolicyistopromoteconservation,development and sustainable management of the Fisheries Resources for the benefit ofpresentandfuturegenerations.

(ix)Fisheries Acts, 2003: Acts provides laws on sustainable development, protection,conservation,aquaculturedevelopment,regulationandcontroloffish,fishproducts,aquaticfloraanditproductsandforrelatedmatters.

(x)National Environmental Policy, 1997: The policy provides the framework for makingfundamental changes that are needed to bring environmental considerations into themainstreamofdecisionmaking inTanzania. It seeks toprovidepolicyguidelines,plansandgiveguidancetothedeterminationofpriorityactions,andprovidesformonitoringandregularreviewofpolicies,plansandprogrammes.Itfurtherprovidesforsectoralandcross-sectoralpolicyanalysisinordertoachievecompatibilityamongsectorsandinterestgroupsandexploitsynergiesamongthem.

(xi)TourismPolicy,1999:Thepolicyensuressustainable tourismdevelopment inTanzania;here includes establishment of Tanzania Tourist Board, improvement of private sectorparticipation,andtheapprovaloftourismrelatedsectorsandprojects.

(xii)TourismActs,2008:ThisActprovidesinstitutionalframework,administration,regulation,registrationandlicensingoftourismfacilitiesandactivitiesforrelatedmatters

(xiii)WaterPolicy, 2002:Thepolicy aims at ensuring that beneficiaries participate fully inplanning, construction, operation, maintenance and management of community baseddomesticwater supply schemes.This policy seeks to address cross- sectoral interests inwater, watershed management and integrated and participatory approaches for waterresourcesplanning,developmentandmanagement.Also,thepolicylaysafoundationforsustainabledevelopmentandmanagementofwaterresourcesinthechangingrolesoftheGovernmentfromserviceprovidertothatofcoordination,policyandguidelinesformulation,andregulation.

(xiv)MineralPolicy,1997:The roleof thispolicy is to stimulateandguideprivatemininginvestmentbyadministering,regulatingandfacilitatingthegrowthofthesectorthroughawellorganisedandefficientinstitutionalframework.Thepolicyprovidesaclearguidancetowardssoundexploitationofnaturalresourcesforthemutualbenefitofprivateinvestors,thegovernmentandentirepeopleofTanzania.

(xv)MiningAct,No.5of1998.GNNo.171of1999:ThisActprovideslawsforminerals,mininganddealingwithmineralsandanyotherrelatedmatters.

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(xvi)AgricultureandLivestockPolicy,1997.Thepolicygoalistheimprovementofthewellbeingofthepeoplewhoseprincipaloccupationandwayoflifeisbasedonagricultureandlivestock.Mostof thesepeopleare smallholderand livestockkeepers.The focusof thispolicyistocommercializeagriculturesoastoincreaseincomelevels.

(xvii)AgricultureandLivestockActs,1977:ThisActprovideslawstoimplementpolicywhosegoalistheimprovementofthewellbeingofthepeoplewhoseprincipaloccupationandwayoflifeisbasedonagricultureandlivestock.

(xviii)LandsActs,1999:On11February1999theTanzanianParliamentpassedTheLandAct,1999andTheVillageLandAct,1999.Thefirstdealswithgeneralland,includingurbanareasandprivateestatesoutside thecustomarysector,and theseconddealswithvillagelands,themainobjectivesoftheselawsaretoprovideforthebasiclawinrelationtoland,managementofLand,settlementofdisputesandrelatedmatters.ActNo.4dealswithLandotherthanvillagelandandActNo.5concernsVillageLand.

(xix) Land Policy, 1996: The Land Policy states that all Land in Tanzania is public LandvestedinthePresidentastrusteeforallcitizens,allTanzaniansmenandwomenabove18yearshaverightstoacquireandownLand,allexistingrightsarerecognizedandprotectedincludingcustomarytitles,Landshouldbeusedproductivelyandthatsuchusecomplieswiththeprinciplesofsustainabledevelopment,thatlandhasvalue,amountoflandtobegrantedtoanypersonorcompanyberegulated,full,fairandpromptcompensationbepaidtoownersintheeventthat,landisacquiredforpublicpurposes,facilitatetheoperationofmarketinLand,toprovideforanefficient,effectiveeconomicalandtransparentsystemofLandadministrationandpeopleofallsexesberepresentedinalldecisionsregardingforaforlandissues.

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is a specialized institution of the East African Commission that is responsible for coordinating the sustainable development agenda of the Lake Victoria Basin. Its vision is to promote, facilitate and coordinate activities of different actors towards sustainable development and poverty eradication of the Lake Victoria Basin. The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is striving to:

• establish a trans-boundary agreement to ensure water flows to sustain the biodiversity of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem

• encourage implementation of harmonized river basin management practices and policies. • facilitate cross boundary management of natural resources in the Mara River basin.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

• conserving the world’s biological diversity• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Documents

Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable ... · within the Serengeti-Maasai Mara Ecosystems (SMME). The spectacular annual wildebeest migration is considered one of the