LAKE VICTORIA BASIN

Yala Swamp, Kenya Yala Swamp, the third largest of Kenya’s wetlands, is situated on the deltaic sediments of the Nzoia and Yala Rivers, at the point at which they enter the northeastern corner of Lake Victoria. The wetlands cover an area of 17,500 ha and contain three freshwater lakes – Kanyaboli, Sare and Namboyo. The vegetation consists of papyrus ( Cyperus papyrus ), phragmites and typha, among others. The Wetlands are of national importance as one of the few habitats where the threatened sitatunga antelope ( Tragelaphus spekeii ) is found in Kenya. The lakes contain some critically endangered haplochromine fish species, some of which are no longer found in Lake Victoria. The area is also an important habitat for many birds (Lake Victoria Basin Commission 2007). There is a lot of farming in and around the wetlands. The local communities harvest macrophytes for handicraft, building and fuel. It is an important area of grazing land and a source of water for livestock and domestic use. Fishing is also an important economic activity in the Swamp both for commercial and subsistence purposes.

Wetlands are drained and converted to agricultural land

The major threats to the Wetlands are drainage for crop cultivation, burning, water hyacinth infestation and pollution as a result of siltation.

Yala wetlands

Nzoia

Nyadorera

200 km

Lake Kanyaboli

KENYA

Lake Victoria

Lake Namboyo

Original swamp

Yala

Lake Kanyaboli National Reserve Remaining swamp

Farms area

Lake Sare

Future farms area

Donated community land

Irrigation scheme

5 km

Source:T. Siegenbeek van Heukelom, 2013, “Food as security. The controversy of foreign agricultural investment in theYalaSwamp,Kenya”,PhD. Thesis, Centre for International Security, University ofSydney.

Copyright©2016GRID-Arendal ·Cartografare ilpresente/NievesLópez Izquierdo

Figure 2.6: Land use changes around the YalaWetlands

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