Serengeti General Management Plan

C. Ecosystem Management Programme
The Amala project is presently suspended, but the issues of forest loss and pump-driven irrigation
are both immediate problems that are severely impacting on the nature of water flow
in the Mara River.
The Mara River is also suffering from pollution from agricultural nutrients, agro-chemicals,
mining by-products and urban waste. Although this threat is only expected to moderately degrade
the river in the next 10 years its effects will be pervasive throughout the river system.
The management actions designed to address these threats and enhance the conservation
status of the Mara River are as follows:
Action 1.2.1: Raise awareness on issues affecting the Mara River and advocate for
catchment-wide responses at international forums
Up-to-date information on the current status and predicted trends of the Mara River are necessary
to provide guidance to policy and decision makers on how best to sustainably manage
the Mara River. This management action will advocate for policy interventions that ensure
the flow rate is not compromised by activities outside the Park (such as the hydroelectric
project in Kenya). To inform this awareness raising and advocacy, more research will be
done to monitor and understand the human effects on key parameters of the Mara River,
which are:
� Water flow - including major rivers and streams feeding into the Mara River, such as the
Bologonja River
� Water quality - especially relating to agricultural chemicals and fertilisers
� Water extraction - including from diversions and boreholes
This information will be collected and analysed through the Monitoring Plan, outlined under
Objective 2 of this Ecosystem Programme. In parallel with this data analysis, SENAPA management
will keep informed of any changes to land use and economic developments within
the catchment, particularly pertaining to transboundary issues and the Mara River in Kenya.
Action 1.2.2: Promote and participate in international collaboration concerning
Mara River management
The previous management action establishes a solid foundation of knowledge regarding the
Mara River and disseminates this information to influence the broader Mara River catchment
stakeholders. This will create the basis for SENAPA management to work with TANAPA HQ
in forming collaborations and partnerships within the Greater Serengeti ecosystem that seek
to sustainably manage the Mara River.
Target 1.3: Fire extent, frequency and intensity within key habitats
managed
Fire is a major management issue for SENAPA. As shown in the box below, fire is the most
pervasive threat to the SENAPA Conservation Targets, and the only identified threat to the
four habitat-related Conservation Targets.
Conservation
Target
Riverine
Forest
Acacia
woodland
Terminalia
woodland
The
Migration
Kopje
habitat
Black
rhino
Fire Threat Very high High High Medium Low Low
Response Actions 1.3.1 & 3 Action Actions 1.3.1 & 3
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