By Agwanda Powerman

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with three Universities; Ardhi University (Tanzania, Egerton University (Kenya) and Maseno University (Kenya) to support critical studies in natural resources and landscape conservation in the Mara River Basin.

The ceremony which took place in Kisumu will allow collaboration between the Commission and the Universities on applied research on Biodiversity Conservation in the Mara River Basin and the Environmental Flows Assessments of the Mara River.

The research will also include wildlife habitat conservation ,conservation enterprise and capacity building and leadership with an initial amount of US dollars 60,000 with 20,000 going to each of the three Universities under partnership.

“This new collaboration is part of broader initiatives being implemented under the “Trans boundary Water for Biodiversity and Human Health in the Mara River Basin Project” supported by USAID /East Africa and implemented by the LVBC” the organizations’ Executive Secretary General Dr.Tom Okurut said.

He added that under the recently -concluded Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (BSAP) for the Mara Basin ,the measures to be undertaken will target improving policy,legislation and institutions,economics,investments,applied research ,communication ,education and awareness -raising.

“The LVBC is an institution of the East Africa Community responsible for coordinating the sustainable development agenda for the Lake Victoria Basin,the Mara Basin is one of the basins of the Lake Victoria Basin and is essential for the survival of wildlife anchoring Kenyan and Tanzanian tourism” Okurut further said.

He added that the survival of the Eco system depends on the flow of the Mara River and the collaboration between the Commission and the Universities will play an essential role of supporting a long term capacity development for science based management system of the ecosystem.