Description:
Riparian buffers protect water quality, reduce erosion, stabilize stream banks, reduce runoff, absorb nutrients, slow down pollutants in runoff, decrease water temperature, reduce evaporation, increase ground water recharge, increase biodiversity and many other benefits. In this video I explain the ecological zone called the Riparian Habitat and describe how important this dynamic interface is between the terrestrial and aquatic habitats. I describe what happens when the riparian zone is not protected, cut down, or destroyed or grazed by cattle that have free access to stream banks. Stream banks will erode, sedimentation increases, runoff increases, nutrient load (nitrates and phosphates ) increases, water temperature increases and entire down stream water sheds and water quality is profoundly effect. I compare riparian buffer restoration efforts here locally in southwest Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay watershed with Mwingi, Kenya where Victor Mutuka, Founder and Director of the Soil water environmental Consvervation Foundation carries out diverse restoration projects including education, planting trees, restoring riparian buffers zones and building sand dams. Together, we describe his tree planting projects which include the Moringa tree, Paw paw or Papaya, Mango and Siamese cassia. We explain why these trees are selected including environmental, cultural and economic value. We describe the special challenges to water quality and conservation in Kenya. If you are interested in helping restore habitats and help people in semi-arid climatically impacted areas in biodiverse rich kenya please see links to the 'The Seeds of Life Foundation below.
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Video length: 10:47