The Economics of Ecosystem Services of the Tana River Basin
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Rivers and lakes
The Tana River Basin covers 22% of Kenya’s total land mass and is home to 18% of the country’s population. It provides a range of ecosystem services vital for human well-being such as drinking water, hydro-electric power, fisheries, agriculture and biodiversity.
The river basin is facing a number of challenges potentially undermining these ecosystem services. The upper catchment is threatened as more land is allocated to farming while poor farming practices have also led to soil erosion and pollution of the rivers. Water resources are planned to be used for water supply to Nairobi and Lamu port/city and this is envisaged to lead to an over-abstraction of water in the Basin. A proposal for the expansion of irrigated agriculture and energy through additional dams has also raised concerns.
This impact assessment includes research on the hydrology, ecology, economy, communities and stakeholders of the Tana River Basin, as well as an extended cost benefit analysis and policy recommendations.
