As the world marks World Wetlands Day, it is essential to understand the significance of wetlands. These ecosystems are vital for human survival, wildlife, and ecological balance with the theme of 2025 being “Protecting wetlands for our common future.” Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens.
Efforts to conserve wetlands have intensified in response to pollution, drainage, human encroachment, invasive species, and climate change threats. Protection, conservation, and restoration initiatives have been sought through legislation, local conservation projects, and international agreements like the Ramsar Convention.
Wetlands serve as natural filters, purifying water by removing pollutants. They provide critical habitats for various species, including millipedes, centipedes, birds, fish, tortoises, and frogs. Additionally, wetlands support educational and recreational activities such as birdwatching and fishing. They also play a crucial role in flood control by absorbing excess water and regulating climate through carbon sequestration, helping mitigate climate change.
These ecological benefits have inspired numerous restoration initiatives focused on re-establishing natural hydrological conditions, removing invasive species, and reintroducing native vegetation.
Conservation at Ondiri Wetland
The celebration of World Wetlands Day at Ondiri Wetland, Afrika’s second deepest quaking bog, every February second of the year was marked with a series of activities aimed at raising awareness and fostering community engagement in conservation. These included the 4th edition of the Ondiri Run to create awareness on World Wetlands Day, where the community and guests show up to participate in either the 3km, 5km, or 10km runs.
Placed within the heart of Kikuyu Sub-County in Kiambu County – Kenya, Ondiri Wetland is a significant ecosystem nature bestows us. Spanning an expansive area of 34.5 hectares and believed to hold depths of 2 – 3 meters, this wetland is a vital lifeline for the surrounding community, serving as a crucial water source and a sanctuary for diverse flora and fauna.
The peat bog of Ondiri lies 2,000m above sea level and is the water source for the over 60,000 residents of Kikuyu and its outskirts in addition to its role as the source of the Nairobi River.
Dr. Eng. Festus K. Nge’no, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, highlighted the ongoing threats to Ondiri Wetland, including encroachment, pollution, and degradation caused by human activities such as cultivation on riparian land, effluent discharge, and waste dumping. He emphasized that these resources and natural ecosystems are “Protecting wetlands for our common future.”
“The government is committed to fast-tracking the gazettement of Ondiri Wetland and securing its designation as a Ramsar site of international importance,” said PS Nge’no.
Collective Conservation Efforts in Kenya
The Ramsar Convention, formally known as the “Intergovernmental Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,” was adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. This treaty promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands globally, recognizing their crucial role in environmental health, biodiversity, and human well-being.
In Kenya, conservation efforts have been reinforced through policies and initiatives such as the National Wetlands Restoration Strategy, announced by former Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya. This strategy integrates community participation and localized conservation programs to ensure the protection of wetlands.
A catchment-based approach has been adopted for wetland restoration, focusing on entire river basins rather than isolated areas. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) launched the “Adopt-a-Wetland Initiative,” which encourages stakeholders—including NGOs, private sector entities, and individuals—to take responsibility for specific wetlands through volunteer efforts and education campaigns.
“These initiatives mark a significant step towards ecological integrity and sustainable wetland management. Under the ‘Adopt-a-Wetland’ framework, we encourage public participation in wetland restoration by designating lead conservation champions,” noted PS Nge’no.
Such collaborations between communities, NGOs, and policymakers have led to notable improvements in wetland conservation, including in Nyando Wetlands. These efforts enhance public awareness of wetlands’ role in biodiversity, water management, and climate resilience, fostering long-term environmental stewardship.
