Integrated water management drives Mara River conservation

Mwanza. As efforts to protect the Mara River Basin intensify, stakeholders from Kenya and Tanzania have come together to celebrate Mara Day, a platform highlighting the ecological and social importance of this critical waterway.

The event brings together local communities, government representatives, scientists, and conservationists to discuss strategies for sustainable management of the river and its surrounding ecosystems.

Speaking recently to The Citizen, Arsene Mukubwa, coordinator of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission’s regional Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) program, which covers five regions sharing the Lake Victoria Basin, said Mara Day offers a chance to address unique challenges facing this section of the basin.

Mukubwa said the IWRM program is guided by principles that recognize water as a finite resource and emphasize collaboration among all stakeholders.

"This principle calls all stakeholders to sit at the same table and discuss how to use and share water efficiently and effectively," he said.

He highlighted the complexity of the Mara River Basin, noting its rich biodiversity and the intertwined human activities that depend on the same resources.

"This principle helps us see how to balance usage to preserve this finite resource," he added.

Mukubwa also emphasized subsidiarity, which encourages implementing solutions at the lowest level possible.

"Even though the basin covers five countries, the Mara River Basin has its own unique characteristics. Mara Day was organized to single out these specific issues, bringing stakeholders together to assess trends and devise sustainable solutions," he said.

Mukubwa praised cross-border collaboration between Kenya and Tanzania, highlighting how communities have been involved in conservation while benefiting from alternative income projects such as beekeeping.

Dr Masinde Bwire, Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), said the Mara River is one of the most ecologically unique areas in the world. It hosts iconic wildlife including lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and diverse bird and reptile species.

"The river is vital for both wildlife and local communities, supporting agriculture, drinking water, and livelihoods," he said.

Dr Bwire noted the challenges facing the ecosystem, including deforestation, pollution, poaching, and climate change impacts, and stressed the need for coordinated action from governments and all stakeholders.