Tana River Delta campaign
The Tana River Delta is under serious threat. In June 2008, Mumias were granted a licence to turn the wetland into sugarcane plantations for sugar production and “eco-friendly” bio-fuels. The Tana River Delta conservation lobby is therefore taking the issue to the High Court to try to halt the decision.
Meanwhile, alternative proposals have been developing for Kenya to lease the Gulf-state of Qatar 40,000 hectares of land to grow fruit and vegetables in return for funding a new £2.4 billion port in Lamu. 16,200 hectares of this land lies in the Tana River Delta.
NEW: Watch 'Kweli Sukari ya Tana ni Tama? / Is Tana's Sugar Really Sweet?' video clips
The Tana River Delta is amongst the top three of Kenya's largest and most important freshwater wetland systems with a significant local community of cattle herders and others dependent on it and who have done so for centuries. It covers an area of 130,000ha (320,000 acres) and comprises of a diverse range of habitats that support in particular many thousands wetland birds both for breeding and for food. It is internationally important for the survival of no less than 22 species of birds “…making the delta one of the key sites in the country for waterbird conservation” (BirdLife International). It also holds a diversity of other wildlife including hippo, lion, elephant, buffalo, many breeding fish and amphibians. |
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