Championing conservation: Prof P.L.O Lumumba set to grace 13th Mara Day Scientific Conference.

Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) has officially announced the attendance of Prof PLO Lumumba at the 13^th Mara Day Scientific Conference set to be held in Maasai Mara University, Narok County, in the Republic of Kenya on 14^th September 2024 under the theme “Flowing Forward Together:  Conserving the Mara Basin Ecosystem for Sustainable Biodiversity & Climate Resilience”.

The scientific conference is part of Mara Day Celebration, celebrated annually between Kenya and Tanzania, which has its roots in the 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin meeting in 2012, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda.

The meeting declared that every September 15th is Mara Day, marking the official commitment to conserving and awareness creation.

Since the Kigali declarations, Mara Day celebrations have continued to achieve their guiding objectives in creating awareness among key stakeholders on the importance of the Mara River basin and its resources, recognize and involve contributions from various sectors in its management, and promote partnerships for the sustainable use of the Mara’s water and biodiversity resources.

Asked about dignitaries who are set to attend this event, Baraka Karama, a staff at LVBC, revealed that “For the scientific conference to be held on 14th September, Prof PLO Lumumba has accepted the invitation to be the key note speaker. Several speakers including dignitaries from the republic of Kenya, and Republic of Tanzania are also expected for the main event on the 15^th September 2024.”

Last year during the 12th Mara day held from 12th to 15th September 2023 in Mugumu town, Serengeti District in Tanzania, Researchers, scientists, experts, senior government officials and relevant stakeholders from the two East African Partner States, the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have jointly agreed on a range shared action that would help to conserve the Mara Serengeti Ecosystem that continue to be threatened by degradation occasioned by several factors.

“Conservation experts called upon the two neighbouring EAC Partner States to seek partnerships for the application of Artificial Intelligence, Earth Observation, and other innovative technologies in management of this shared ecosystem.  This year, we expect a review of the resolutions and new developments.” Baraka added.

The Mara River Basin forms one of ten (10) major rivers that drain into Lake Victoria   which is the second largest freshwater Lake in the world.

The river basin is about 13,325 square kilometres shared between Kenya and Tanzania with 65 per cent of the basin being in Kenya and 35 per cent in Tanzania.

The river’s inflow into the Lake is 37.5 Cubic meters which accounts for 4.7% of total surface water inflow into Lake Victoria.