In earlier posts, we’ve followed the campaign mounted by our colleagues in Nature Kenya to protect the fabulous Tana River Delta from the combined impacts of sugar-cane and biofuels farming together with port development and titanium mining.
I’ve just been sent this article appearing in the Kenya Star newspaper which powerfully brings home the plight of the local people who are putting their future on the line to prevent forced evictions.
The heart of the issue is that the delta is too important to sacrifice both for the people that already live there and for the rich and diverse wildlife that depends on the area.
Both local people and nature depend on the health of the delta which has a history of poor planning and failed projects – the pressure is on to ensure that the importance of the place is recognised and fully built in to decisions that affect this special place before people and nature are bullied into submission.
Nature Kenya is working with local communities - pastoralists, farmers, fishermen and conservation groups who are very concerned – to file a new court case against the proposed plantation sugarcane and to take forward positive proposals to enhance livelihoods. The aim is a long-term plan for the area which builds on the rich biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Delta to provide sustainable livelihoods for the local people and is produced with strong input from the local communities.