- The one-day event will precede the annual Mara Day celebrations to be held at Sekenani town in Narok county on Sunday.
- A total of 60 abstracts were submitted by researchers and scientists from across the World including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Belgium.
Image: HANDOUT
Maasai Mara University will hold its 13th Mara Day Scientific Conference on Saturday with 48 researchers, scientists and environmental experts expected to take part.
The one-day event will precede the annual Mara Day celebrations to be held at Sekenani town in Narok county on Sunday, Lake Victoria Basin executive secretary, Masinde Bwire said.
A total of 60 abstracts submitted by researchers and scientists from across the World including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Belgium will be showcased.
Renowned scholar, PLO Lumumba, will be the keynote speaker at the scientific conference.
The areas to be covered during the conference are environmental conservation and climate resilience in the Mara Basin ecosystem, and natural resource management for inclusive socio-economic development in the Mara Basin ecosystem.
"Mara Day Celebrations is meant to acknowledge the ongoing process of different actors in promoting integrated and sustainable conservation practices of Mara Ecosystem," Bwire said.
The researchers and scientists will also give presentations on legal justice, gender equality and the governance framework for transboundary cooperation as an enabler for sustainable conservation in the Mara Basin ecosystem.
Knowledge, innovation and technology in conserving the Mara Basin will also be covered.
Mara Day celebrations on Sunday will be accompanied with activities such as tree planting, exhibitions and competitions.
The event is held on a rotational basis between Kenya and Tanzania.
Tanzania hosted the 12th Mara Day Celebrations in Mugumu, Serengeti district, Mara Region last year.
This year’s theme is: Flowing Forward Together: Conserving Mara Basin Ecosystem for Sustainable Biodiversity and Climate Resilience.
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale is expected to grace the event.
The Mara River Basin forms one of ten major rivers that drain into Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world.
The river is the lifeline of the world’s renowned Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems which form the bedrock of tourism activities for the two sister EAC countries.
Mara Day was established in 2012 to raise awareness about the conservation of the Mara River Basin (MRB), a critical ecosystem of Masai Mara Game Reserve and Serengeti National Park, shared by Kenya and Tanzania.
Celebrated annually on September 15, the day highlights the importance of sustainable management of the basin's resources.
Mara Day celebration promotes cross-border cooperation between the two nations in protecting the vital water source.
It also aims to engage local communities in conservation efforts, enhancing their livelihoods through sustainable practices.
The initiative reflects a collective commitment to preserving the unique biodiversity and ecological health of the Mara River Basin.