Publication: Evaluation of Wetland Loss in Maragua Watershed, Murang’a County, Kenya
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2018
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NRF
Publisher
Journal of Sustainable Research in Engineering
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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.
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Keywords
awareness, conservation, ecosystem services, small wetlands, stakeholders