A lobby group based in Kisumu County has warned against the dangers of encroachment of wetlands areas, saying it will have a negative impact on the environment.
Speaking in his office, East Africa Sustainability Watch Network National Coordinator Norbert Nyandire said that encroachment of the wetlands is not only dangerous to the environment, but the aquatic life.
“As Suswatch Network, encroachment into the wetlands is a serious offence and there are laws provided for conservation of wetlands,” said Nyandire.
He said that encroachment of wetlands had led to constant floods in some areas of the Kisumu.
“Wetlands play different ecological roles, different aquatic life will be affected. Once the aquatic Life is interfered with, it becomes a problem," said the Suswatch Coordinator.
"While wetlands play a key role in improving community livelihood, their degradation is a cause of worry,” he added.
He said that lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, wet, grasslands, oases and human made sites such fish ponds, combine to form the wetlands.
“But if at all the extraction of different products at the wetlands can be done in a sustainable way, that is commendable,” said Nyandire.
"Using them efficiently, we promote their growth. That way, you also limit the conflict of encroachment of wetlands. They are community facilities that can always be reserved for the betterment of the society,” he added.
Nyandire said that as much as lobby groups do their part to sensitize the communities on the dangers of wetland encroachment, there are still challenges.
“Sometimes, some of the encroachment of the wetlands are politically motivated, making it difficult to achieve the watchdog advocacy on the dangers of encroachment,” he said.
The world marked the Wetlands day on February 2, for the adoption of the convention of wetlands.