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Sironga Swamp Threatened As 'Magic Tree' Swallows Up Rivers
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 08 July 2007 23:49
According to experts, if the activities are not checked, the wetland may cease to exist as a major reservoir for rivers draining into Lake Victoria in the next few years.
Area District Environment Officer James Moemi says the wetland is subjected to all kinds of adverse environmental degradation.
He gave the examples of massive planting of the eucalyptus tree, clay digging for making of bricks and human settlement.
Last February, the Annual National World Wetland Day was marked at the swamp because of its regional importance and to kick off a rehabilitation campaign.
Already signs of desertification are manifest in the drying up of rivers.
Consequently, the National Environment Management Authority Director General, Prof Ratemo Michieka, has ordered the removal of the blue gum tree from the swamp.
One of the most serious threats to the natural ecosystem of the wetland is the proliferation of the eucalyptus saligna, an invasive species of the blue gum.
Because of the high demand for wood fuel and building poles, the government in the 1980s earmarked some hills and swamps in the larger Kisii District for afforestation.
They included Riomego, Nyasio, Ritumbe, and Nyacheki together with Nyanturago and Sironga.
The eucalyptus, first introduced in the country by the colonial Government, is the most commonly used in the area and is popularly known as the "magic tree of Kisii".
The tree was intended to provide vegetation cover for the Kisii Highlands rising above 1,800 metres above sea level, the midlands of Gucha River Basin, West Irianyi and Kitutu and Northern Nyamira. When the Lake Basin Development Authority was commissioned, it embarked on a reclamation project, where river basins and swamps were put under afforestation and blue gum was the tree of choice.
These made the valleys appear ever green from the aerial view.
Records from the Forestry Department show that three quarters of the trees planted in the region were blue gums.
Environmental experts have warned that blue gum grown along river banks and water sheds could lead to desertification.
A mature tree consumes 15 gallons of water per day and can source for water within a radius equivalent to its height.
Nyamira District Environment Management Committee chairman Jamleck Baruga says their efforts to have the eucalyptus replaced, have proved difficult owing to the social and economic importance locals attach to it.
The committee has ordered the relocation of five schools from the swamp in its bid to reclaim the land.
They include Ibucha, Sasati, Riachogo, Sironga and Amazon Academy.
The tree takes a shorter time to mature, is regarded as a hardwood and has medicinal value.
Extracts from the blue gum tree relieves pain from colds and stiff muscles. It can also be used as a perfume.
Residents fear planting the trees near their homesteads because of the traditional belief that it attracts lightning, which has caused loss of lives and destruction of property.
But the scientific explanation is that since the tree grows tall, it is an easy target for lightning.
Environmentalists want farmers to replace the blue gum with trees with low water intake such as bamboo, mexican ash and gravellea robusta.
Health and Environment Media Network blames the Nyamira Town Council for the depletion of the wetland by failing to protect it from encroachers.
Chairman Joseph says the wetland is still under trust land managed by the council, but it has been neglected by the council because it does not generate revenue.
