| dc.description.abstract | Wetlands provide many important services to human society, at the same time they are ecologically sensitive systems. They play a regulatory role in climate system, water purification and waste removal, recharge and discharge of ground water and they also provide livelihood sources to people. However, many wetland resources have been clepletecl by man and this has compromised wetland quality, negatively impacting human wellbeing and livelihoods of the local communities adjacent to the wetlands. Th is study exam inecl the utilization and conservation of wetlands resources in selected areas of Nyamira County. The specific objectives of this study were to; establish Sironga and Nyabomite wetlands resources and their uses, examine the challenges facing the utilization of Sironga and Nyabomite wetlands resources and identify measures undertaken to conserve Sironga and Nyabomite wetlands. The study was cross-sectional and used descriptive research design. Purposive sampling was used in selecting study areas and key informants. Simple random sampling was used in selecting 115 wetland users from Sironga and Nyabomite wetland regions from a target population of 420 households. The respondents were households head/representatives from the 115 households sampled. Primary data was collected using interview schedules and structured questionnaires. Secondary data was obtained from professional works, journals, documentary analysis and the internet. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing qualitative data. Data collected was presented by the use of statistical tables, pie chart, percentages and plates. Qualitative data was presented through descriptions. The study findings, based on the data collected, the common wetland resources in the study areas constitute; water, land, clay soil, papyrus reeds, fibres, trees and ibis birds. The local community has been utilizing the wetland 26 resources in the following ways: support of agricultural activities, source of traditional medicine, craft production, water supply for both domestic and industrial use and provision of grazing fields. The salient challenges facing wetland resources are: human encroachments for settlement and crop cultivation, increased planting of blue gum trees, overutilization of wetland resources and pollution. The study suggested the following measures to realize conservation of the wetland resources; filling of open ditches left with soil after extraction of clay for brick-making, a forestation of degraded wetland areas and adoption of poultry and bee-keeping as alternative sources of Iivelihood and integrated land and water management. From the findings, conclusions were drawn to the effect that;, the major wetland resources utilization practices were agricultural production that covered about 50% of the wetlands and brick-making activities which accounted for 17% of the wetland area. The common challenges that faced wetlands are, increased wetland drainage for crop cultivation and for human settlements, and increased planting of blue gum trees. Based on the conclusions of the study, the following recommendations are suggested: emphasis to be put on regeneration of the wetlands by planting both indigenous and exotic tree species that are environmental friendly, such as bamboos and vines. adoption of shamba system approach, and also adoption of collaborative area-wide approach in the conservation of the wetlands in the area. The study recommendations are useful in the utilization and conservation of wetland resources in Nyamira County and other high agricultural potential regions. They will also assist policy makers and other stakeholders to establish relevant wetland utilization policies in Kenya and will acid to the body of knowledge. | en_US |