The project seeks to gauge strategies of effective capacity building in surrounding communities where fishing and transportation activities are the primary means of income. As nearly 85% of families rely on fishing for livelihood; several activities including fishing, firewood fetching amongst others pose threats to the Lake Piso Multiple Use Reserve (LPMUR) as it relates to organic pollution. This is one reason why the project has been designed to engage the communities and stakeholders in the preservation and management of pollutant and help them raise awareness of the danger it poses to the reserve.

There are pollutants to include: plastics, cloths, improper/old fishing nets and manures that increase the number of decomposers which in return reduces the amount of oxygen available to fishes and other species within the LPMUR. A rapid assessment recently conducted through focus group discussions across the adjacent communities of the Lake reflected that over 80% of communities dwellers are not in the know of the danger/effect associated with pollutants within the Lake; though our observations reflected the opposite and as such there is a critical need for sensitization and awareness on the associated risks.

In response, the alongside awareness raising and routine monitoring around the reserve, ESL with GEF/UNDP funding will roll out an alternative livelihood initiative aimed at helping local dweller raise income through their engagement with lowland Vegetable farming and production.

The ESL recognizes efforts of partners that have and continue to work in the designated area for this project that will be reached out in terms of coordination and collaboration; like the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) county office as well as local community-based institutions that have worked over time, but yet lacks the capacity to do more than just their very best as a result of limited resources to survive it through. Some of these structures include: the Joint Robertsport Nature Club; making up four primary & secondary schools that conduct environmental including conservation awareness in schools and communities and also the Piso Conservation Forum (PCF) Incorporated that has work for more than 5 years creating awareness and monitoring; but has both reduce activities due to absence of resource and other forms of capacity support.

The PCF will be engaged in terms of supporting alternative livelihood as the local community structure on the ground. They will, with support from ESL, conduct mobilization of participants, provide guidance for the initiatives and ongoing monitoring of earmarked agriculture activities. The project will at the same time support training, awareness raising and material support for the Joint Nature Club which will further enhance their capacity to participate and lead on awareness raising and monitoring of designated points continuously in schools and as well in communities