The smoking tears of Mara Wetland

Many IBAs are in an unfavourable state

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Africa are under severe pressure of imminent damaging developments and human activities. More than half lack protection status.

Observed smoke from burning papyrus in Mara wetland. (PHOTO: ©Paolo Paron)

STATE: What we know about the changing state of birds

The smoking tears of Mara Wetland

The Mara Bay and Masirori Swamp is an IBA located on the lower part of the Mara River basin in Tanzania. The Mara River basin is recognized as a World Heritage Site because of the annual wildebeest migration. Mara Bay supports globally significant populations of Shoebill Balaeniceps rex (categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List), and migratory birds, mainly White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, vast papyrus swamps, as well as many other plants and animals, and provides essential ecosystem services, including food and water supply. It also serves as a source of income to the local people.

Faced with rising socio-economic challenges and the need to earn a living, communities around the IBA have turned to the local natural resources. Fire has become a tool for hunting and to access open water. The fires have massively destroyed the wetland’s biodiversity. There has been a steep decline in populations of papyrus-endemic passerine birds, bird nesting areas and fish nurseries. Sadly, people have died in the wetland in the course of burning.

Measures are underway through BirdLife International’s project Sustainable use of critical wetlands in Lake Victoria basin – to create awareness and train local communities on sustainable use of critical wetlands in the Lake Victoria basin. Through local conservation groups such as South and North Mara Water Users Association, papyrus weaving groups have been formed to provide knowledge on sustainable harvesting of papyrus and skills in different methods of making papyrus crafts. The papyrus craft business acts as a livelihood support initiative to the community and will promote the sustainable use of the Mara wetlands.