Evaluation of Wetland Loss in Maragua Watershed,  Murang’a County, Kenya

Jacinta M. Muema, J.W. Kaluli, J.M. Gathenya and B.M. Mwangi

Publication:
Evaluation of Wetland Loss in Maragua Watershed, Murang’a County, Kenya

dc.contributor.author	Jacinta M. Muema, J.W. Kaluli, J.M. Gathenya and B.M. Mwangi
dc.date.accessioned	2026-09-08T12:12:24Z
dc.date.issued	2018
dc.description.abstract	Wetlands are habitat to a wide range of biodiversity and thus accommodate some of the world’s most valuable resources. Unfortunately, their ecosystem services are continuously being lost to destructive anthropogenic activities. Systematic wetland mapping and inventorying to establish wetland status is necessary. A study was therefore done to determine the wellness of wetlands; and the temporal and spatial changes in wetlands in Maragua watershed. Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) were used to extract wetlands areas. Additionally, interviews, storytelling events, stakeholder workshop, focus group discussions and personal observations were used to obtain qualitative data on human activities in wetlands and the challenges facing wetlands in the study site. In 1987 the area under wetlands in Maragua was 24.1 ha, in 1999 it was 12.8 ha and by 2018 wetlands covered only 10.1 ha. Further, the wetlands are more concentrated on the downstream side of catchment. Additionally, wetland cultivation, planting of exotic trees and fodder grass farming are the main human activities taking place within the wetlands. It was observed that the local communities are neither aware of the adverse effects of their activities on the wetlands nor the potential benefits of conserved wetlands. With the help of various stakeholders, the County Government of Murang’a has opportunities to create awareness and educate the residents of the study area about the potential benefits of conserving their wetlands.
dc.description.sponsorship	NRF
dc.identifier.uri	http://sri.jkuat.ac.ke/ojs/index.php/sri ISSN (Online): 2409-1243
dc.identifier.uri	https://repository.nrf.go.ke/handle/123456789/1610
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher	Journal of Sustainable Research in Engineering
dc.relation.ispartofseries	; Vol. 4 (4) 2018, 160-170
dc.subject	awareness
dc.subject	conservation
dc.subject	ecosystem services
dc.subject	small wetlands
dc.subject	stakeholders
dc.title	Evaluation of Wetland Loss in Maragua Watershed, Murang’a County, Kenya
dc.type	Article
dspace.entity.type	Publication