Written by: Ana Lemos
Photo credit: Ana Lemos
Thursday, September 15 is world Mara Day– a day that celebrates the Mara River and the world famous Mara landscape. As a nod to the transboundary nature of the Mara River, the 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for the Lake Victoria Basin in 2012 chose to celebrate the river on September 15 of every year as it coincides with the great migration of wildlife from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Maasai-Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Mara Day celebrations are rotated on an annual basis between Kenya and Tanzania. In 2015, celebrations were hosted in Tanzania in the town of Butiyama- birth place of Tanzania’s first president Julius Nyerere.
Hundreds of thousands of people from Kenya and Tanzania will come together today to celebrate the 5th annual World Mara Day in Bomet, Kenya. This year’s theme is “Mara Conservation, My Responsibility” and seeks to create awareness among stakeholders on the importance of the Mara River Basin and its resources, promote river bank protection, and improve water management practices. During this day, people will reflect on the importance of the Mara River and how their actions can contribute to the conservation of the landscape. The SELVA team found that several communities throughout the Tanzanian side of the Mara River Basin are implementing conservation strategies such as limiting fishing during certain times of the year, reforestation of riparian zones, and the organization of stakeholders for resource management.
The future of the Mara River Basin depends on the health of the river. Current threats to the Mara River Basin are pollution from agriculture and mining, deforestation, and global climate change. These threats are a cause for concern because not only is the river a main water source for people for drinking and domestic needs, it is also home to many types of wildlife. These animals and plants are economically important as they are used for tourism and materials for building houses, baskets, and fishing instruments can be found in or near the river. Mara Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the river to the local population, wildlife, and ensuring its existence for generations to come.
Recent Comments