Participatory Approaches to Assessing the Impacts of Changes in Land Use and Climate on Ecosystem Services in Yala Wetland, Kenya

Abstract

Wetlands such as Yala Swamp in western Kenya, offer a broad range of ecosystem services (ES) that support the communities living around them. However, they face threats from drivers such as land use change, water abstraction, invasive species and climate change. Participatory approaches, which incorporate stakeholder perceptions and values in ecosystem management can provide relevant data to inform the balance between socio-economic and environmental aspects of development in such landscapes. The main aim of this study was to analyse the flow of ecosystem services and impacts of changes in land use and climate in the Yala wetland using participatory approaches. The study used expert and local knowledge to identify ecosystem services, and the participatory matrix model to score flow of ES over different land cover types. Stakeholder perceptions of drivers of change with an emphasis on climate change were also analysed. Finally, participatory scenarios of future changes in the ecosystem based on identified drivers were developed with the local stakeholders. The study identified a range of ES, namely provisioning services (fisheries, wild foods, honey, fishing gears, firewood, charcoal, medicine and construction materials), regulating services (carbon sequestration, flood regulation, erosion protection, nutrient regulation), and cultural services (intrinsic value, recreation and tourism, education and research, and cultural shrines). The study also showed that participants perceived papyrus, trees and shrubs, and water bodies as providing a high proportion of ES. Land use, governance, and environmental change were identified as major drivers of change in the ecosystem. The observed changes in climate variables over the last 30 years mainly correspond with observed climate trends. Most respondents had observed changes in climate in Yala wetland in the last 30 years in terms of incidence of drought (88.5%), increased frequency of floods (86.0%), and irregular onset of rainfall in the last 30 years (90.9%). Many respondents were aware of the wetland’s role in climate change adaptation, namely through provision of water during drought (98.0%), provision of grazing areas during drought (98.0%), provision of farming areas during drought (95.0%), and reducing the impacts of floods (94.0%). Respondents also reported on ongoing and preferred adaptation measures, which include further land use conversion as a measure to cope with climate change. The results of the participatory scenarios show that the community’s values of Yala wetland are focused both on livelihood development and conservation of the wetland. Stakeholder scenarios diverged between the three workshops. Participants from Siaya area, affected by the allocation of land to the large-scale agricultural investor, identified land use change and governance as the two most important drivers from which to develop their scenario storylines. In contrast, participants from the Busia area, who have not been affected by land allocation but suffer the effects of the wetland’s flooding, identified land use change and environmental change as the most important drivers. The scenario analysis demonstrated that stakeholders recognize the importance of a balanced management approach that requires collaboration between the government and the local community. Three recommendations based on the specific objectives are given: 1) implementation of the Yala Delta land use plan (LUP) should prioritize land management that maintains ES provision across land covers by maintaining and improving vegetation cover and safeguarding water resources ; 2) environmental education and awareness should be implemented to strengthen existing local knowledge of biodiversity and climate change; 3) co-management models that prioritize inclusion and public participation to support proper decision-making on land use and appropriate policy responses to climate change should be incorporated in the LUP.