Abstract: Wetlands, all over the world, offer many livelihood support services to riparian communities and beyond but are currently severely threatened with decimation. In Murang’a County, Kenya, wetlands are a key life support system for many communities but their survival is currently uncertain due to extensive encroachment, filling up, pollution and weak legislation. Our study aimed at investigating the impact of riparian community’s livelihood strategies on wetlands conservation and restoration in Murang’a County, Kenya. Data was collected in 4-sub counties of the County using household’s survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussion. A randomly selected sample of 404 respondents were recruited for the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0. Results showed an encroachment rate into the wetlands by the riparian communities of 60.4%. A highly significant and positive correlation was obtained between livelihood strategies and impacts on wetlands ((r=0.184, p value =0.001). Members of the riparian communities were poorly informed about the roles of wetlands, with 70% unaware of any wetland’s conservation efforts. A whopping 73.7% had not participated in any wetland conservation effort. Hence, there is need for community sensitization and empowerment on wetlands wise use as well as sustainable wetland utilization, conservation and management.
Keywords: Riparian, Wetlands, Conservation, Restoration.
Title: Impact of Riparian Community’s livelihood strategies on Wetlands Conservation in Murang’a County, Kenya
Author: Isaiah Ochieng Abillah
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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