![]() ![]() Lesser Flamingos are itinerant, meaning that they respond to changes in local environmental conditions by moving and thus are dependent on a network of suitable wetland sites. The current global population is approximately 2-3 million birds. What we do know is that 65% of all Lesser Flamingos on earth are born at Lake Natron, so clearly this is an important breeding area for this enigmatic species. Lake Natron is always associated with Lesser Flamingos, but that is only part of the story. Why is Lake Natron so controversial? Is it just because of the Lesser Flamingo? and other drought resistant species such as Opuntia longiforia and Euphorbia kibwenziensis. The woodland area is mainly dry (rainfall is c.600mm/year) and dominated by Acacia-Commiphora woodland with Sanseviera spp. ![]() These complex wetlands on the edge of the lake form extensive areas of regularly burnt edaphic grassland, such as that characterised by Sporobolus spicatus, which are found in the basin (these are crossed when driving from Ngare Sero to Pinyinyi) and on areas at the base of Gelai. The northern and southern areas are known to join in extreme rainfall events, but otherwise they are isolated from one another. The Ewaso Ngiro river, which feeds these northern wetlands, is the largest freshwater inflow into the lake. The Shompole area is a complex of wetland systems, which vary considerably during the year. There is then a gap of approximately 60 km between the southern lagoon and Shompole, which is at the northern end of the lake. The southern two areas, ‘east south’ and ‘west south’, show variation in their water compositions, and have many different aquatic plant and animal species. There are 16 wetland sites that are important for migratory and resident birdlife that are grouped into three general areas, most easily defined by the water sources that sustain them. ![]() What do we know about Lake Natron? Evidence suggests that approximately 10,000 years ago, the lake was 60 meters higher than it is now and was contiguous with Lake Magadi in Kenya. ![]() Any development projects would require well-designed management and mitigation techniques, especially with the use and management of the limited fresh water resources in the area. It is upon this fragile ecotone along the edges of the lake that the local human population, as well as the biological diversity, largely depends. O.alcalicus, like the majority of the lake’s resident and migratory biological diversity, is concentrated on the margins of the lake where spring water or seasonal river inflow creates a unique but fragile environment. For example, the fish species Oreochromis alcalicus appear to be endemic (only occurs within) to Lake Natron and Kenya’s Lake Magadi. Whilst Lake Natron is not aquatically diverse, it does have some very ecologically dependant species. The water is highly saline (ph 10), and most of the lake is an extremely inhospitable environment. The lake basin is approximately 65 km long, although on average only 20% of this is ever covered by water. Given this recent attention, TNRF member, Marc Baker of Ecological Initiatives, provides an overview of Lake Natron, its diversity, Lesser Flamingos and what a soda ash factory could mean for this fragile environment. In early April, the Daily News reported that the government wishes to fast track the plans for a soda ash factory at Lake Natron ( ). ![]()
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