Every year on 2nd February, the world commemorates World Wetlands Day, a day set aside to raise awareness about the importance of the world’s wetlands and the vital role they play in our planet. Wetlands include areas such as marshes, swamps, bogs and mangroves and are crucial for healthy ecosystems. They play an important role in preventing flooding and also act as carbon sinks, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is believed that wetlands support up to 40% of the world’s biodiversity, yet, alarmingly, the earth is losing wetlands at a much faster rate than it is losing its forests.
Karura Forest is home to diverse ecosystems including natural and exotic forest areas, grassland areas, and crucially, wetlands. There are 5 rivers that flow through Karura Forest: The Ruaka River, Gitathuru River, Karura River, Thigiri River and Mathare River. These rivers are crucial in supporting the neighbouring communities, but are also an important source of water for the flora and fauna in the forest. The areas surrounding these rivers form wetlands where a diverse range of plant species grow, and where many animals also thrive.
In view of this, the Friends of Karura Forest Research Department organised a river cleanup on Monday 2nd February to commemorate World Wetlands Day. This important exercise, organised by Peter Fundi of FKF, brought together staff from Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), and Karura Forest Environmental Education Trust (KFEET), who joined hands in a clean up of Ruaka River. The staff were joined by a group of 64 students from New Dawn Education Centre.
The cleanup exercise was highly successful, though the rubbish collected from within the river indicated an increase in dumping from human settlements. Debris including shoes, clothes, blankets and plastic waste was retrieved from the river. It goes without saying that such waste causes pollution and endangers the flora and fauna that rely on these rivers for their very existence.
Given the rate at which the Earth is losing its wetlands, and the devastating effects of their loss to our environment, it is becoming increasingly clear that heightened sensitisation is needed to ensure that all communities living along the river courses are aware of the importance of these rivers. Communities outside the forest also need to organise cleanups upstream and downstream to help mitigate the problem of dumping from settlements.
Well done to all the staff of Karura Forest, and to the wonderful, inspirational students from New Dawn Education Centre, for joining hands for this important initiative. Together, let us speak up for our wetlands!
Julie Kimutai
Manager, KFEET
The Karura Forest Environmental Education Trust — KFEET — was established in 2010 to promote environmental education and provide a centre for learning about forest ecosystems.
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