Public perceptions of papyrus: community appraisal of wetland ecosystem services at Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Papyrus wetlands form ecological buffer zones, protecting lake shallows fromsedimentation and open water from eutrophication. Multiple wetland processes andfunctions also support the livelihoods of adjacent riparian communities. However,ecohydrologists have in the past typically placed insufficient emphasis on social andcultural factors operating within the catchments that they study. Here we outline aprocess that better integrates social science research methods within ecohydrology, usingthe ‘language’ of ecosystem services to prioritise objectives for the rehabilitation ofpapyrus wetlands at Lake Naivasha in Kenya. Reference is made to Lake Victoria forcomparison and to illustrate how and why stakeholders’ perceptions of wetland servicesmay vary over even short distances.