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IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India, 2002
REMOTE SENSING AND GIS BASED EVALUATION OF MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
FOR THE RESTORATION OF A PAPYRUS SWAMP AT LAKE NAIVASHA, KENYA
Jane Bemigisha,
Uganda Wildlife Authority
P.O.Box 3530, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-41-346287/8; Fax: 256-41-344902
e-mail: bemigisha@yahoo.co.ug
KEY WORDS: GIS, Land Use, Land Cover, Mapping, Planning
ABSTRACT:
A management plan was prepared for Lake Naivasha riparian area in 1996. One of the objectives was to check inappropriate land
use and maintain a sustainable papyrus fringe. Respective options included re —establishment of the papyrus fringe around the lake,
maintaining a minimum of 50 m buffer zone on the land-side of the papyrus edge; and discouraging reclaiming of flooded land,
intensive agriculture, and permanent structures below the 1906 lake level (1893.3 m contour). In order to verify the adequacy and
implementation progress of these options a 1995 satellite image was used to derive the 1997 land cover, papyrus swamp distribution,
plus a land use map for the riparian area. In a GIS, the 50-m buffer and landcover within were established. A digital elevation model
was used with the land cover and landuse map to verify the appropriateness of the activities below the 1893.3-m contour. Arial
photographs of 1967 were used to derive the 1967 papyrus distribution as reference for possible papyrus re-establishment. Results
showed that the papyrus swamp was hardly protected as per 1996 proposed measures. Within the 50 m buffer, agricultural fields
covered 35% and shrubland 55%. Both land-cover types are of high threat to the papyrus area. Activities below the 1893 .3 m
‘contour included intensive agriculture, and buildings covering 80 % of the area against the 1996 proposal. These land use types
provide minimal chance to papyrus regeneration. 1673 ha was identified as possible restoration area for papyrus taking the 1967-
swamp area as reference.
its fringes that support lucrative agriculture especially
1. INTRODUCTION horticulture. In a bid to check inappropriate land use and
maintain a sustainable papyrus fringe, the following proposals
were included in the riparian area management plan by the
1.1 Background Lake Naivasha Riparian Owners Association (LNROA) in of
1996:
Management plans in the natural resources realm aim to 0 Maintain and where necessary restore to natural state a
achieve and maintain the delicate balance between resource minimum of 50-meter buffer zone on the land-side of the
preservation and utilization. However, as much as resource papyrus edge.
management planning has proliferated in the past decades, it Q Protection and where necessary re —establish the papyrus
has also left a legacy of shelved plans whose implementation fringe around the lake and allow its natural growth.
leave verification questions. Such questions are commonly Q Discourage the reclaiming of flooded land , intensive
answered through evaluation. Evaluation systems employ irrigated agriculture, and building of permanent structures
feedback correcting mechanisms to ensure that project inputs, below the 1906 lake level ( 6210 or 1893.3 m contour)
work schedules, target outputs, and other related actions are
proceeding according to plan. They systematically and
objectively determine the relevance, efficiency, and
effectiveness of project activities (Wijayaratna, 1996; Kleiman
et al. 2000; and Nankya et al. 1999). Evaluation credibility
depends on appropriate data and information obtained from
existing documentation and targeted field verifications. Inter-
linkages of an evaluation system for sustainable development
with information systems has been elaborated by Wijayaratna
(1996), and motivated the approach to the evaluation of Lake
Naivasha papyrus restoration options.
1.2 Evaluation Issue
At Lake Naivasha, Kenya, the fluctuating lake water level and
decreasing papyrus swamp area are a critical concern for the
riparian owners. The papyrus swamp supports the livelihoods
of wildlife and surrounding communities as an animal and bird
sanctuary designated internationally as a “RAMSAR” site and
779
For the evaluation of papyrus swamp restoration options
Naivasha, the representation of their adequacy and extent of
implementation were believed to benefit from the data
collection, analysis and presentation capabilities of Remote
Sensing and Geographic Information systems (GIS).
1.2 Evaluation Objective
The objective of the evaluation was to use Remote sensing and
GIS in assessing if the land use activities of the Lake Naivasha
Riparian Area were in line with the papyrus conservation
options prescribed in the management plan of 1996.
1.3 Evaluation Questions
l. Are the present land use activities in harmony with
the proposed management measures?"
2. Are the measures adequate for addressing the papyrus
restoration problem?
