ITCER — Monitoring Macrobiome Biodiversity in Siaya County
Project: Monitoring Macrobiome Biodiversity in Siaya County
Siaya County, located in Western Kenya, faces rapid environmental changes driven by both climate dynamics and human activities.
To address the urgent need for ecological baselines and restoration planning, this project focuses on documenting macrobiome biodiversity—including vascular plants, insects, earthworms, macrofungi, birds, and other fauna—through spatially distributed photographic surveys and subsequent DNA barcoding.
Species observations are geo-referenced and integrated into a county-wide biodiversity monitoring framework.
The ITCER experimental plots in Ng’iya serve as a core reference point within a broader Siaya County grid network, whose optimal spatial resolution is under development in collaboration with local stakeholders.
All numerical calculations presented below include both the county-wide photographic records and the geo-referenced images taken at the ITCER site, which formed the pre-study foundation of the monitoring approach.
Citizen scientists and locally trained photographers contribute primary biodiversity observations, which are subsequently verified through ITCER’s validation interfaces.
Field data undergo quality control and expert review to ensure consistency and reliability across the monitoring network.
The overarching goal is to create a robust biodiversity inventory that supports renaturation efforts, enhances ecological understanding, and provides actionable knowledge for land-use planning and climate adaptation.
Further integration with GIS tools and platforms like GBIF is envisioned in cooperation with the Siaya County Administration.
- Combined distinct taxa (union): 3,638
- Total images: 33,933
- Total observation events: 4,353
- Total interaction images: 11,882
- Total interaction events: 2,267
- Taxonomic experts (estimated): 12
This project complements ITCER’s ongoing research on soil mycobiomes and microplastic pollution, forming part of a larger vision for integrated environmental monitoring and sustainable development in the region.
Project lead: International Training Centre for Environmental Research (ITCER), in collaboration with the Siaya County Government.
Email: ITCER@gmx.net