Exploring Indigenous Water Conservation Concepts in Kenyan

Kennedy Wekesa Murunga Start Date: Feb 9, 2025 - End Date: Jun 8, 2025
  • Mt Kenya Forest, Kenya
  • Mount Elgon Forest, Kenya
  • Mau, Kenya

My Travel Story

by: Kennedy Wekesa Murunga Start Date: Feb 9, 2025 - End Date: Jun 8, 2025
Hello, I am Kennedy, a dedicated environmental researcher with a focus on landscape fragmentation and its impacts on ecosystems. Building upon my recent study, “Characterizing landscape fragmentation of Koitobos river sub-basin, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya available  at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402405268X ”, I am embarking on a new project to explore indigenous watershed conservation practices in Kenya's critical regions: Mt. Elgon, Mt. Kenya, and the Mau Forest Complex.

Project Overview: In my previous research, I analyzed the effects of landscape fragmentation on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Now, I aim to delve deeper by:

Engaging with Indigenous Communities: conducting interviews to understand traditional watershed management practices that have sustained these ecosystems for generations.
Assessing the Impact of Fragmentation: Evaluating how landscape fragmentation has affected these traditional practices and the overall health of the watersheds.
Promoting Knowledge Exchange: Sharing findings with both local communities and the broader scientific community to foster sustainable conservation strategies.
Why This Matters: The watersheds of Mt. Elgon, Mt. Kenya, and the Mau Forest are vital for Kenya's water supply, agriculture, and biodiversity. Indigenous knowledge offers valuable insights into sustainable land and water management. However, increasing landscape fragmentation threatens these practices and the ecosystems they support. By integrating traditional wisdom with scientific research, we can develop holistic approaches to conservation.

How You Can Help: Your support will enable me to

Travel to Remote Areas: Cover transportation and accommodation costs to reach and stay in these regions.
Conduct Interviews and Surveys: Facilitate interactions with indigenous communities, including translation services and compensations for participants' time.
Document and Share Findings: Produce reports, articles, and presentations to disseminate the knowledge gained.
Join Me in Making a Difference: By contributing to this project, you are supporting the preservation of indigenous knowledge and the development of sustainable watershed conservation strategies. Together, we can work towards a future where traditional practices and modern science collaborate to protect our planet's vital resources.

Thank you for your support!
  • Mt Kenya Forest, Kenya
  • Mount Elgon Forest, Kenya
  • Mau, Kenya