Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

Contractor:
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (EARPO)

Project Code: 031-680-078	Start Date: 01-Apr-95	End Date: 01-Mar-99
Commitment: £90,000	Status: Current	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
The high productivity of wetlands supported early civilisations and continues to support many rural communities dependant upon wetland, fishery, pasture and agricultural resources. Even in richer countries, harvest of game from the wetland areas supplements income in rural areas and provides much needed off-season employment. Wetlands of Kenya such as Saiwa National Park (SNP) and Lake Bogoria National Reserve (LBNR) support highly diverse populations of flora nd fauna with some species being important biological indicators in the ecosystem.

At present, the majority of the people who reside near SNP and LBNR lack basic understanding of how to sustainably manage their wetlands. They are more interested in settling around the wetland for agricultural purposes. Since January 1987 WWF-EARPO has been supporting the Kenya Crane and Wetland Project (KE0066) at Saiwa and in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and Kenya Wetlands Working Group (KWWG) various studies have been undertaken.

Project Objectives:
To contribute to the conservation of bio-diversity in the Saiwa and Bogoria wetlands by developing community awareness and participation.

Intended Outputs:
Two well equipped resource centres managed by the community.

Six extension and research personnel trained.

Five sustainable community tree nurseries each producing 100,000 seedlings per year established and maintained.

Afforestation of trees in the deforested areas, with at least 80,000 seedlings per year.

Self sustaining, self help wetland based community projects, established and strengthened.

Two hand dug wells at Saiwa and two water harvesting pans/hand dug wells constructed in Bogoria depending on what is appropriate for the area.

Education and extension material produced and distributed.

Management plans for SNP and LBNR.

Two M.Phil research projects funded.

Increased awareness of the importance of wetland resources in the community area.

Increased capacity for the Reserve and the park administration, County Councils and local NGOs to protect and manage the SNP and LBNR.