Being home to over 300 bird species makes Lake Bogoria one of the richest birdlife areas in Kenya, particularly famed for its breathtaking displays of flamingos, which congregate here in their hundreds of thousands. The woodland habitats surrounding the lake harbour a rich abundance of wildlife including the hyena, cheetah and one of the few remaining pockets of endangered greater kudu. Lake Bogoria is fed by many freshwater springs and rivers, but this water flow is now failing due to a huge increase in water use upstream. Unsustainable abstraction of river water, mainly for agricultural irrigation schemes and watering of hundreds of livestock caused reduced river flow for people and wildlife living downstream, and for the lake's vital recharge. “Thirsty” commercial crops such as tomatoes and flowers are siphoning away water, and the pesticides used on these crops are polluting the lake and nearby swamps and wetlands. The people living in the area outside the National reserve are dependent on the surrounding natural resources for their day-to-day survival and livelihoods, but as the resources become scarce, conflicts (sometimes violent) arise among different water and natural resource users. Erosion of the natural resources on which people depend for their livelihoods ultimately threatens to push communities deeper into poverty as their water resources dry up; the trees on which they rely for timber and charcoal have been cut down; and the soil on which their livestock graze is washed away. The existing threats and challenges are likely to be compounded by the effects of climate change in future. WWF has already secured a number of successes through years of collaboration with local stakeholders and communities, which need to be continued and further expanded. WWF has committed to raise £10,000 for this important and ambitious project this year. HOW YOU CAN HELP: • £1000 could pay set up one more Water User Association. An overarching water management committee, the Water User Associations, has been introduced. These small scale democratic organisations give local people the chance to exert their legal rights to protect their own natural resources – helping to solve water shortages through mutual understanding and negotiation. • £1000 could pay for setting up one community co-operative bank, giving local people the opportunity to launch alternative livelihoods which are environmentally sustainable. The project is working to promote alternative income generating activities such as bee keeping, and opportunities for ecotourism in the area. • £5000 could pay for one year’s salary for a project officer working in education, environment and community development, sharing the latest techniques with local people to improve their lives. WWF has already formed over 35 Village Environment Committees which have been trained in environmental monitoring and conservation techniques, but many more are necessary.