Lake Nakuru becomes Africa's first IBA-branded National Park

Nakuru, best known for it's flamingos, has 480 recorded species of birds. Copyright Wildlife Extra.

October 2009. Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its population of up to 1.5 million non-breeding Lesser Flamingo, has become the first National Park in Africa to be branded as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

450 bird species
Some 450 bird species have been recorded in and around Lake Nakuru, including Endangered Madagascar Pond-heron, Near Threatened Grey-crested Helmet-shrike and Martial Eagle. The site is also key for regionally important numbers of congregatory waterbirds such as Greater Flamingo, African Spoonbill, Great White Pelican and Grey-headed Gull.

"The world's greatest ornithological spectacle"
"The IBA branding makes Lake Nakuru National Park part of the global network of places recognised for their outstanding value to bird conservation", said Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director Dr Julius Kipng'etich. He added that Nakuru's new status was a huge boost to the KWS's efforts to market the lake as: "The world's greatest ornithological spectacle".

At the ceremony, the Minister launched the Fourth Edition of the ‘Checklist of the Birds of Kenya', which now lists 1,100 species, and is available from NatureKenya.

300,000 visitors

He added that Nakuru's new status was a huge boost to the KWS's efforts to market the lake as: "The world's greatest ornithological spectacle". Copyright Wildlife Extra

Income from the 300,000 visitors to Lake Nakuru each year supports conservation work at other, less glamorous but no less important, Protected Areas. However, the flamingos and other spectacular birds and large mammals at Lake Nakuru are suffering the short-term effects of the severe drought affecting the country.

"Lake Nakuru IBA is crucial for Kenya's tourism industry which is worthy US$ 1 billion per year", said, Dr Julius Arinaitwe - BirdLife Africa's IBA Programme Manager. "Every effort should be made to protect it from the human-induced threats that it is currently facing".

Forest clearance, logging and charcoal are major threats
Longer term problems include the extensive clearance of the Mau Forest by settlers, loggers and charcoal makers, which has reduced the forest's capacity to hold and release water during the rainy season. Much of Lake Nakuru's water is provided by four rivers which originate in the Mau Forest.

"There is need to look at the entire water-catchment to conserve wetland IBAs such as Lake Nakuru", said Paul Matiku - NatureKenya Executive Director. "Even well-protected sites such as Lake Nakuru are threatened by unsustainable land use upstream".

Courtesy of Birdlife Internaional.