Call for Abstracts International Scientific Conference on the Tana River County

Abstract

Preamble The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is established under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) No. 8 of 1999, as the principal instrument of Government for the implementation of all policies relating to the environment. The Kenya Constitution 2010, also, ushered a new devolved system of governance which created 47 counties, including Tana River County at the Coast Region. Each county is expected to design its own best practices of environmental governance in harmony with the Constitution, Kenyan laws and guidelines for resources management as stipulated by NEMA regulations. Tana River County has been selected as a pilot study to help the people of Tana River County identify their full natural and human resources potential for harnessing in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic development and human well-being. This cannot be effectively realized without the contribution of researchers and civil societies who are on the ground collecting and synthesizing data on biodiversity, land use changes and adaptation, demographic and cultural data, resource use conflicts, amongst others. Therefore, as a researcher who is currently working in Tana River County or might have completed your research on this County, your contribution will help the people of the Tana River County to prioritize their development agenda by sharing such information with the people of this County, their leaders and planners. NEMA in collaboration with the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi (UoN), will host an international scientific conference on Tana River County from 11th to 13th February 2014 in Mombasa at a venue to be decided later. The theme of the conference is: “The Impact of Climate Change on Natural Resources and Human Activities in Tana River County, Kenya.” In addition, the sub-themes for the conference have been identified as follows: 1. Land use and land cover change / sustainable land management 2. Irrigation and the environment 3. Land tenure systems, conflicts and community livelihoods 4. Population dynamics and livelihood systems 5. Environmental disasters and coping strategies 6. Integrated water resources management in a changing climate 7. Agriculture and food security 8. Culture and natural resources management 9. Biodiversity, ecosystems and tourism 10. Geopolitics and development issues 11. Climate change adaptation and mitigation The objectives of the conference are to: i. Enable scientists who are working or who have completed their work in the Tana River County to share their experiences and knowledge on the resources of the region. ii. Establish a data base for the Tana River County to help the people of Tana River County prioritize resources for their sustainable development. iii. Publish excellent research work for knowledge sharing. iv. Use the Tana River County model for other counties in the country. Conference deadlines • Submission of abstracts should reach the conference organizers not later than 30th August 2013. • Those whose abstracts will be accepted will be notified by 20th September 2013 to work on the full papers. • Full papers should reach the organizers not later than 6th December 2013. • The conference will be held on 11th to 13th February 2014. • Abstracts and full papers should be addressed to all the emails provided below in PDF format.

1) The Director General National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) P.O. Box 67839-00200 Nairobi, Kenya Email: dgnema@nema.go.ke and anomambia@nema.go.ke Attention: Dr. Anne N. Omambia

2) Prof. Elias H.O. Ayiemba Department of Geography and Environmental Studies University of Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100 Nairobi, Kenya