The final objective in this programme focuses on
enhancing research and monitoring in the area.
Whereas the Reserve has a strong history of ecological research and
is host to a KWS-managed research station, much of this research
has not been of direct relevance or application to management. This
objective therefore focuses on putting into place the necessary
systems and structures to ensure that research is of direct
practical benefit to management, and to enable management to
understand and focus on emerging threats to the Reserve’s
ecology in the future.
Although 65 percent of the Mara River basin is in
Kenya, activities upstream could have far-reaching consequences not
only on the MMNR, but also on the Tanzanian part of the ecosystem,
and in particular on wildlife populations and distribution in the
Serengeti National Park. In order to help address these concerns
it, is anticipated that a transboundary water users forum will be
formed under the “Transboundary Water in the Mara River
Basin” project. This forum will play a key role in
helping to develop a shared understanding of the conservation needs
of both the MMNR and SNP, and in establishing the potential roles
of stakeholders in developing a water allocation schedule and
transboundary management mechanism. As key stakeholders in the
transboundary ecosystem, MMNR management will support and
participate in the transboundary water users forum as and when it
is established under the project.
