Conservationists meet in Bomet County for talks on saving Mara ecosystem

Tourists catch a glimpse of the wildebeest crossing the Mara River at the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Bomet County will Thursday host a major meeting to discuss the conservation of the Mara River ecosystem. PHOTO | GEORGE SAYAGIE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya will be the chief guest at the event.
  • Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said the county was delighted to host the event.
  • He urged those living on the ecosystem to stop activities that may destroy it like charcoal burning.
  • There has been concern among local and international conservationists on the degradation of the Mau Forest.

Bomet County will Thursday host a major meeting to discuss the conservation of the Mara River ecosystem.

The Mara Day celebrations will bring together both local, regional and international environmental conservationists to chart the way forward on how to conserve the eco-system.

Last year’s event was held in Tanzania.

Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya will be the chief guest at the event whose theme is ‘Mara Conservation, My Responsibility’.

The Mara River basin is a trans-boundary resource shared by Kenya and Tanzania. It covers an area of 13,500 square kilometres with 65 per cent of it being in Kenya.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said the county was delighted to host the event.

EMBRACE CONSERVATION

“The Mara River ecosystem is the lifeline of people in this region. There is therefore an urgent need for communities living along the basin to embrace the conservation efforts being put in place,” Mr Ruto said.

He urged those living on the ecosystem to stop activities that may destroy it like charcoal burning, illegal logging as well as uncontrolled farming along the river banks.

There has been concern among local and international conservationists on the degradation of the Mau Forest with neighbouring countries exerting pressure on Kenya to conserve the forest which is a regional water tower.

A number of senior government officials from Kenya and Tanzania Wednesday conducted a clean-up at four trading centres ahead of the Thursday event.

Tanzania Water and Irrigation PS Emmanuel Kalobelo, Bomet County Commissioner Bernard Leparmarai, Lake Victoria Basin Commission Executive Secretary Ally Said Matano and Bomet County Executive for Water and Environment Dr Sigi Langat participated in the event.