Sustainable management of the natural vegetation cover and fish breeding grounds in the western shores of Lake Turkana

Abstract

The arid and semi-arid areas (ASAL) require enhanced management of the scarce environmental natural resources and this is well documented. This study shows that training through demonstration site creation enhances the management of the natural forest cover and fish breeding grounds. Prosopis juliflora had also been introduced to the area to mitigate the aridity and help in conservation of soil. However, Prosopis juliflora became an invasive weed, colonising most of the areas and thus, outcompeting indigenous tree species. The study areas were along the western shores of Lake Turkana and thus cover the impact of the invasive P. juliflora to the fisher folk community. Intervention techniques on invasive species management were introduced to the study area, as well as activities on sustainable management of the natural vegetation cover, and fish breeding grounds were carried out in consultation with two host community groups that had formed beach Management Units (BMU). The aim of the study was to demonstrate how sustainable management of the available forest cover in the area coupled with protection of fish breeding grounds was beneficial to ASAL communities. The communities were able to show attitude change and also realise income from an area that was previously filled with negative attitude towards the invasive prosopis.