NEMA doubles up wetland conservation efforts
Residents planting Mangrove at Mwazaro ,Lunga Lunga Sub County Kwale /Photo Caroline Kahonzi
By Caroline Kahonzi
The National environment management authority NEMA has affirmed Kenya to be a signatory to the international policy of Ramsar convention on wetlands .
Kenya has at least six wetland areas which include Mbogoria ,Baringo ,Tana delta among others, set aside as areas of importance international recognition for conservation of animals,fresh air and biodiversity .
Kwale county director of NEMA Godfrey Wafula stated the importance of wetland conservation through mangrove planting .
“International policy on conservation emphasized on countries to see the importance of conserving small wetland areas like Mwazaro by planting mangroves so as to create room for fish breeding and also to control soil erosion along the beaches as well as rehabilitating the wetland areas that were destroyed,”Said Mr.Wafula .
Speaking to journalists during mangrove planting at Mwazaro beach in Lungalunga sub county Mr.Wafula confirmed a bigger percentage of mangrove in the coastal region was destroyed through human activities and climate change .
“ Mangrove conserves biodiversity such as fish and birds which are important to the environment ,they also help in preventing the climatic weather changes ,”Noted Mr.Wafula .
Mr.Wafula is now calling upon Kwale residents to embrace mangrove planting so as to improve the environment .
“Today we are planting three thousands seedlings of mangrove in Mwazaro wetland but the exercise will continue at Matuga ,Lungalunga and Msambweni sub counties.I am urging every person in Kwale county to take part in this exercise ,”Emphasized the director .
Mshemanga Hamisi Mwazaro project coordinator also the chairman of Pongwe kidimu community forest association noted their mandate is to grow mangrove in order to rehabilitate deforested areas as well as conserve the environment along the beach .
“ We are collecting garbage along the beach to make the environment clean and ensure living creatures in the ocean have life ,plastic bottles are harmful to turtles and dolphins ,we are also growing and planting mangrove for a better ecosystem ,Said Mr.Hamisi .
Geofry Mwania, a community programs, environment and safety superintendent from Australia mining company base titanium said the company initiated a program of sensitizing students and community the importance of conserving the environment through tree planting .
“We understand the world is in a crisis on environmental issues ,we have more than 18 BMU groups in kwale county conserving the environment through mangrove planting ,we do seedling funding and community sensitization on environmental issues ,”Said Mr.Mwania .
Kwale county deputy governor Chirema Kombo said the county government is partnering with different environmental stakeholders to ensure environmental destruction is stopped .
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