With the world commemorating World Wildliife day for the past two years, Baringo County has been hit hard by forest degradation following unprecedented rise of water levels in three lakes in the region.
Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria and Lake 94 has witnessed an increase of water levels affecting economic livelihoods around the lakes and also endangering wild life including giraffes in Long’charo Island in Lake Baringo.
Lake Baringo swelled thus submerging hotels, schools and dispensaries forcing the government to relocate the giraffes to the main land.
William Kimosop, North Rift Economic Bloc Wildlife coordinator said the felling of trees up-streams is among the reasons why the lakes are swelling adding that Baringo is experiencing the phenomenon.
Farriah Tarus who works with Kenya Wildlife Conservancy Association said they are targeting the youth to embrace forest conservation to increase forest cover.
Baringo Governor, Stanley Kiptis, regretted that the rising of water levels was as a result of man behaviors saying that it has dire effects and consequences to the people around lakes.
He appealed to the locals to plant trees even as the rain season is about to begin.