The people of Nyando Wetland: socioeconomics, gender and cultural issues | Community Based Approach to the Management of Nyando Wetland, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

Nyando Wetland is endowed with rich biological diversity and supports the livelihoods of many people in the Lake Victoria Basin. It provides ecological services (climate modification, water purification, waste water treatment, flood control and water storage and distribution in space and time); direct uses such as water for domestic purposes, livestock watering, source of fish, medicinal plants and animals and various materials. Despite the intricate link between human well-being and wetland functions, the wetlands are threatened by high and increasing population density of both humans and livestock, unsustainable agricultural practices, effects of Climate Change (prolonged droughts and floods), pollution of surface water sources, unpredictable and low rainfall, deforestation, unplanned human settlement, overgrazing, limited access to clean water, poor sanitation, inappropriate and degrading fishing practices, among other factors. Since the livelihoods of the people largely depend on the utilization of wetland resource, it is important to ensure sustainable use of natural capital by striking a balance between its utilization and conservation. The underlying message of this chapter is that long-term human development cannot be achieved without prioritizing environmental conservation and management. It is therefore incumbent upon all Kenyans to value wetlands as the “kidneys of the earth” and support their sustainable use for the benefit of present and future generations. This is especially true for Nyando Wetland resources that are vital to the local and regional socioeconomic development but are easily accessible to the poor. This chapter articulates the socioeconomic, gender and cultural contexts in which the inhabitants of Nyando Wetland operate in meeting their livelihoods. It is organized to include a contextual narrative of the origin of the people of Nyando Wetland, their demographic characteristics and selected social indicators with a focus on implications to sustainable resource management. The interaction of people with resources and the influence of gender and cultural issues to natural resources use are also articulated. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the policy framework for the community based management of Nyando Wetland resources.

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