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
