KERICHO – In a significant push towards environmental conservation, Kericho County Executive for Water, Environment, Energy, Forestry and Natural Resources, Rosemary Rop, has called for concerted efforts to restore, protect, and utilize wetlands for economic benefit. Speaking at the World Wetlands Day event held at the University of Kabianga, Rop emphasized the potential of wetlands to provide jobs and wealth, urging graduates to innovate around biodiversity conservation.
According to Kenya News Agency, wetlands are not only crucial for their ecological benefits, such as supporting diverse habitats and wildlife, but also offer economic opportunities through tourism, agriculture, and other sustainable practices. She highlighted the capacity of wetlands to support bamboo cultivation, attract bird watchers, and serve as sites for eco-tourism, thus contributing to Kericho’s economic development. “We are moving beyond protecting the wetlands; we want it to be an economic foundation for new jobs and activities within this county,” Rop stated.
The County Executive also addressed the importance of wetlands in providing essential resources like construction materials, food, medicine, and water for domestic and industrial use. She called on local chiefs and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) officers to enforce regulations against harmful practices like eucalyptus planting near water bodies and urged the community to adopt sustainable land use practices.
Highlighting the challenges faced by wetlands, University of Kabianga Vice Chancellor, Prof. Erick Koech, noted the encroachment issues in several local wetlands, including the Daraja Sita wetland on the Kericho-Bomet border. These activities threaten the wetlands’ ecological balance and the species that depend on them.
The event, which also featured a tree planting exercise led by Rop, underlined the need for enhanced forestry education at institutions like Kabianga University and Londiani Forest College, to train future leaders in wetland and natural resource conservation. Kenya Forestry Research Institute Officer, Joram Binga, reported that over 600 trees were planted to commemorate the day, marking a step towards the restoration of the university’s wetland areas.
This year’s World Wetlands Day theme, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,” highlighted the intrinsic link between wetlands and human life, showcasing the dependence of communities on these vital ecosystems for sustenance, inspiration, and resilience.