THREATS FACING THE TANA RIVER DELTA, KENYA

Tana river Primate reserve was established in 1976 to protect the remaining forest and the two endemic primate species, Tana River Red Colobus and Tana River Mangabey, which live in the lower parts of the Tana River Forest. They are endangered by habitat loss and degradation, which has increased in the recent years. The reserve even had problems with its establishment. They had to move 250 families from the area, which then became protected. Furthermore, around 10,000 people lived or cultivated the land in the reserve and around another 10,000 people used it to graze and water livestock. Around 16% of the protected area is used for farming. The World Bank donated 6.2 million dollars in a period of five years, to help with protecting and managing of the Primate Reserve. The goal of the project was to relocate the people living in the reserve, which did not turn out to be a solution. It faced a lot of resistance from the people who did not want to relocate. It ended with 300 naked women protesting in the research centre. The World Bank had to pay 4.8 million dollars compensation for the relocated people, when the Higher Court in Mombasa discovered that the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility failed to meet its promises to provide 15 acres per household, a house, compensation for lost trees and crops and 380 dollars for each family. Plans to schools, churches, mosques and houses also never came to fruition. The reserve was eliminated in 2007 since it was not established accordance with the Kenya law. The reserve is now faced with threats of the Tana River Irrigation project, which plans to convert 2,000 acres of land into farmable land. The goal is to make the Tana Delta suitable for farming, import less food and provide new jobs for the people. It is estimated that around 24.000 tons of rice could be produced each year. The land, which would be used for farming, would have to be taken from the people and wild animals; however, it is still supported by the government. Additionally they also plan to put up a sugar cane plantation, which would remove even more of the protected forest and consequently destroy the Tana Delta. The plantation would provide them with a large amount of ethanol, which they would sell in the European market. The organization, which tries to keep a healthy and clean environment in Kenya, agrees with the project. Fishermen, villagers and shepherds who bring around 60,000 livestock to the Tana Delta in dry seasons are concerned. If the project materialises around 100,000 people will lose their means of survival.

Location

Kenya, Tana River country, Tana delta, Tana River national primate reserve

https://www.google.si/maps/place/Tana+River+National+Primate+Reserve/@-1.9481252,40.1261787,13.75z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xf7ce41020d903aec!8m2!3d-1.9345564!4d40.1350307

Environmental impact

• Water pollution
• Land degradation (e.g. drought, soil contamination, erosion and desertification)
• Biodiversity loss – Ecosystem destruction
• Depletion of natural resources (fossil and mineral, forest, water, etc)
• Alteration of landscape aesthetics and built heritage

Ethical/ legal issues

• Health and well-being
• A clean and prosperous environment and a safe and pleasant habitat
• Equality before the law and protection by the law (including marginalized and discriminated groups because of colour, race, gender, disability, descent, economic status, age, etc.)
• Opportunities to work and leisure
• Indigenous land, culture and rituals
• Personal and social development, economic progress and innovation

Information sources & materials

Contributor(s)

Marko Verbič and Nik Košir, students at the BIC school Ljubljana

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