Sustainable Moderation of Sand Harvesting Effects and Conservation on Land Cover, Flora and Fauna along the Riparian Land

Abstract

Sand is an important mineral for the construction industry in the Kenyan society at large. However, protecting the environment in areas where this practice of sand mining takes place has become an environmental concern, given that the demand for sand increases with the growth of industry and construction. Sand mining though sustains the economy of the locals, can lead to considerable environmental damage which varies from pit formation to soil erosion. There is therefore need to put in place measures that can promote the economy of the locals and at the same time conserving the rich and diversified flora and fauna. The objectives of the study were: to identify effects of sand harvesting on land cover, flora and fauna; and to establish sustainable measures of land cover, flora and fauna along riparian land in Kisumu County. It was an experimental research design carried out using mixed method approaches. A sample size study population of 384 was involved, which comprised of NGO staffs, County Council staffs, local area authority staffs, sand harvesters and the local community. The local communities were randomly sampled while purposive sampling was used to select respondents from the sand harvesters, area chiefs, NGOs and the County Council staffs. Data were collected by means ofself-administered questionnaires, guided interview schedules and observation check list by the researcher. The results indicated that there was negative impact of sand harvesting on land cover, flora and fauna on the riparian land along rivers. It also established the sustainable measures of land cover, flora and fauna in the study area.The research indicated that indeed the harvesting of sand is affecting the land cover, flora and faunaalong riparian land negatively. The vegetation, the wildlife and the land cover are destroyed as the top soil is harvested as sand. Further, the land for agriculture is turned into waste land due to sand harvesting by formation of pits. This has resulted in the loss of the natural beauty of the environment. Because there are also economic gains in sand harvesting, sustainable measures of land cover, flora and fauna along riparian land are recommended. These should include; regulating the harvesting periods or controlled harvesting, re-shaping of the land where sand has been harvested, advocating for continuousawareness and positive education programmes on conservation measures of land cover, flora and fauna and enacting necessary legislative laws aimed at conserving land cover, flora and fauna.