- At the close of the 12th Mara Day celebrations, delegates drawn from the two EAC States congregated at Mugumu Town of Serengeti District in Tanzania.
- They also asked Kenya and Tanzania to identify and map major point source pollution hotspots and prepare a water quality investment plan for the Mara River
Image: DICKENS WASONGA
Conservation groups, experts and researchers have appealed to the governments of Kenya and Tanzania to put in place budgetary provisions and prioritize interventions in the Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem, including annual Mara Day Celebrations.
At the close of the 12th Mara Day celebrations, delegates drawn from the two EAC States congregated at Mugumu Town of Serengeti District in Tanzania.
They also asked Kenya and Tanzania to identify and map major point source pollution hotspots and prepare a water quality investment plan for the Mara River.
Delegates also urged the two countries to pursue and unlock private-sector financing and investments.
This, they said, is to promote sustainable tourism, biodiversity conservation and pollution control in the Mara River Basin.
They further appealed to the two governments to promote and invest in climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions, Ecosystem-based Adaptation and renewable energy.
This is to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on the riparian communities and on the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem as part of the agreed Africa Climate Adaptation Programme.
This year’s Mara Day celebrations, whose theme was "Conservation of Mara River for Biodiversity and Sustainable Economy" brought together conservation experts.
They included top environmental researchers, senior government officials from the two countries, regional and international partners, and community groups involved in conservation efforts among other delegates.
Ahead of the celebrations, delegates gathered for a scientific Conference which also attracted key stakeholders of the shared Maasai Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem.
Kenya and Tanzania have a shared heritage and a common interest in achieving sustainable development of the Lake Victoria Basin and specifically the transboundary Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
A Sectoral Council of Ministers of the EAC for Lake Victoria Basin designated the 15th Day of September every year.
Mara Day to coincide with the annual wildlife migration (recognized as the 7th world wonder) with a view to raising awareness on the significance and importance of conserving this critical shared ecosystem for posterity.
Kenya and Tanzania also have a Memorandum of Understanding for Joint Water Resources Management of the Transboundary Mara River basin.
As a transboundary ecosystem, conservation activists are concerned that the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and Lake Victoria Basin in general continue to face various development and environmental challenges that require the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
The Mugumu meeting noted that there is a need to further strengthen the cooperative and sustainable management of the Masai-Mara-Serengeti ecosystem for posterity.
To boost knowledge generation and ecosystem monitoring for decision support and sustainable management of the shared ecosystem, Conservation stakeholders rallied the two neighbouring EAC nations to seek partnerships for the application of Artificial Intelligence, Earth Observation, and other innovative technologies.
Amongst the 12 resolutions put together by the secretariat of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission( LVBC) which coordinates the yearly event, was a recommendation for the strengthening of the institutional framework for cooperative management of the transboundary Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem by Kenya and Tanzania.
This, experts said, could be made possible by among others, reinvigorating institutional structures, forums and instruments envisaged in the cooperative MOU such as the Transboundary Mara River Water Resources Users Forum, the Joint Technical and Coordination Committees, Mara River Basin Stakeholders Dialogue among others.
"We recommend that the two countries Initiate a Water Fund (Watershed Investment Program) for the Mara River Basin to optimally support conservation of the Transboundary Masai Mara Serengeti ecosystem while at the same time empowering women, youth, and other marginalized groups for more inclusive and sustainable development," part of the resolutions read.
The partner states sharing the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem were further urged to Intensify and diversify resource mobilization initiatives for a broad-based multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder transboundary programme.
This, they said, will catalyze sustainable management and development of the Maasai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Stakeholders working to conserve the transboundary resource within the two states also asked Kenya and Tanzania to embrace and integrate indigenous knowledge and practices of targeted communities in ecosystem conservation and management including policy, programming, and on-ground interventions.
Delegates also Supported the establishment of the Joint Transboundary Water Project and institutionalize the Mara River Basin Scientific Conference in all future Mara Day Celebrations.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission executive Secretary Dr Masinde Bwire heads the body that is charged with the coordination and sustainable management of the Lake Victoria Basin.
He asked the two countries to reach out and leverage private sector financing and investments for the sustainable development of the Mara River Basin and the Lake Victoria Basin in general.
Dr George Lugomela who is the Director of Water Resources in the Ministry of Water United Republic of Tanzania(URT) and Andrew Mware Kinyua, who is the Director of Natural Water Resources, Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation- Kenya signed the adopted resolutions on behalf of their respective countries.