A steady silent witness

I took this picture during a sunny field work day in the Mara Wetland, Tanzania. The granitic inselberg appeared to me as a huge silent witness not only of siltation and inundation of the wetland but also of the human actions. Slash-and-burn is widely used to deforest lands and riparian vegetation for new crops and grazing fields along the Mara River. The induced habitat degradation is jeopardizing the ecosystem services provided by this unique water resource in a semi-arid climate. Create awareness to water users and local communities is necessary to preserve this fundamental habitat. The challenge is on.