Bird habitats in East Africa under threat as pressure on land rises

Growing up in Kenya’s Rift Valley, little Edna Ratemo was always mesmerised by the nearby scenic Lake Nakuru, whose shores were carpeted in the vivid pink of the Lesser flamingos.

“The sight was breathtaking. The waters would subside, marking the low season; then when the waters returned, you would see millions of flamingos,” she reminisces.

Several years down the line, many things have changed. “The well defined high and low seasons are long gone. The lake’s water levels have been falling and the flamingo numbers have decreased drastically,” she says.

Nakuru town has also changed. Its population has been increasing steadily over the years and putting a strain on the areas’ resources.

For example, more buildings have been erected, and farms are now close to the Lake, polluting it with raw sewage and harsh chemicals that affect the Lesser flamingos adversely.

Ratemo’s is not a lone cry. Environmentalists across East Africa are concerned about the rapid destruction of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) or habitats that are of immense value to the region.

The conservation monitoring co-ordinator of Nature Kenya, Fred Barasa, notes that birds act as environmental watchdogs.

“When they disappear from an area, it shows there is a problem with that ecosystem that could endanger the lives of other animals, plants and human beings,’’ says Barasa.

He notes that of great concern are unprotected IBAs, which are at risk as pressure on land in East African countries increases.

East Africa’s economy is largely driven by environmental resources, mainly in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Therefore, failure to avert the destruction of IBAs spells doom for the region’s development agenda, and the future of its citizens.

Lake Natron in Tanzania is another threatened wetland IBA. Studies have shown that three-quarters of the world’s Lesser flamingos live in East Africa, and they all depend on the Lake as a significant breeding site.

Therefore, conservation organisations worry that plans by the Tanzanian government to construct a road the Serengeti Highway close to the lake, could interfere with its ecology. It could also revive plans to build a soda ash plant at the Lake, which would adversely affect the flamingos.

The 2011 Report on the IBA Status and Trends in Uganda shows that the Lutembe Bay Wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria is the most affected in the country.

The population of migratory birds (specifically the Gull-Billed Tern) has been decreasing over the past five years. This may be attributed to habitat changes such as cultivation, real estate development and agro-chemicals pollution from surrounding flower industries.

The report recommends strict regulations to minimise these threats. Lutembe Bay is important to surrounding communities as a source of fish for food and income, raw materials for local crafts and building, as well as water for domestic use

By Bruce Amp