Anthropogenic Threats Affecting Birds and their Habitats in Lake Solai, Kenya
Keywords:
Anthropogenic threats, Lake Solai, Bird Conservation, Community perceptions, Wetland biodiversityAbstract
Anthropogenic activities including urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure development are major drivers of biodiversity loss, with significant impacts on avifaunal diversity in freshwater ecosystems. This study assessed the perceived threats to birds and their habitats around Lake Solai, Kenya, a key wetland supporting diverse resident and migratory bird species. Perceived threats, mitigation measures and effectiveness of conservation efforts were assessed through structured questionnaires administered to 100 households across five villages bordering Lake Solai; Majitamu, Kapndege, Kasururei, Tuiyotich, and Machine. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 where descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to examine the perception of threats, preferred mitigation measures and associations with demographic and livelihood factors. Habitat degradation (85%), climate variability (78%), human disturbance (65%), and pollution (58%) emerged as the predominant threats, with variations linked to primary livelihood activities rather than demographic characteristics (age, gender and village). Support and funding and education were prioritized by the respondents as critical mitigation strategies, although there was high reliance on local community initiatives, formal conservation efforts were not recognized. The differences in village preferences of mitigation measures highlights the importance of localized conservation approaches specific to socio-economic contexts. Generally, the conservation efforts were limited with only 30% of the respondents being aware of them, they mostly highlighted informal actions including awareness creation and volunteering, with minimal formal actions. The findings emphasize the need for strengthened governance, enhanced community engagement, and integrated, livelihood-sensitive conservation planning to safeguard avian biodiversity in this human-modified landscape.
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