SOYSAMBU CONSERVANCY IS PARTY TO THE WORLD WETLAND DAY

The World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2011

Theme of year : ‘Forests, Water and wetlands’

By Duncan Ouko and Beatrice Limo.

The Ramsar Convention on wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for action and national co-operation for the conservation, protection and sustainable use of wetlands .This convention was adopted way back on 2nd February 1971 in Iranian city of Ramsar.The treaty came into force in 1975(the oldest multilateral environmental agreement in the world)This treaty is the only of its kind in the world dealing with a particular ecosystem .Kenya became a party to it in 1990,other member nations cover all geographic areas of the globe.

Government agencies, NGOs, and private sectors have been organizing the celebrations since 1997 on 2nd February to mark the adaption of Ramsar convention including undertaking of actions aimed at raising awareness to the public on wetland values and benefits.

Theme of this year was chosen because this year, 2011 is the UN international year of forests focusing on:

Role of forest in wetlands functions,
Relationship between forest and wetlands in socio economic development and sustenance,
Forested wetland s and the special benefits they offer and biological diversity.

Measures taken by the Kenyan government as a signatory is to ensure wise use of our wetlands including addressing their degradation, encroachment and conflict resolution among users one of the measures has led to the designation of five lakes in Kenya’s central rift valley as wetlands of international importance, lake Nakuru, Naivasha, Baringo, Bogoria and Elmenteita and ensuring wise use. Lake Elmenteita was recently designated as a wild life Sanctuary.

The national celebration venue was Lake Nakuru National Park commemorating 20 years since the designation of Lake Nakuru as First Kenya’s Wetland of International Importance.

Soysambu Conservancy is protecting a large proportion of the Lake Elementaita, which is one of the Ramsar sites in Kenya and is so privileged to be associated with the celebrations this year and the years to come.