Good morning.  I am honored to be with you today to celebrate the commendable progress that has been made to protect and conserve the Mara River Basin.

Famous all over the world for its beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity, the Mara-Serengeti attracts millions of tourists each year between July and October to watch the spectacular wildebeest migration.

Not only does the Mara River need to be protected because of its one-of-a-kind migration phenomenon and natural beauty, but also because the Mara River is critical for people’s livelihoods in Kenya, Tanzania and throughout the entire East African region.

In fact, more than one million people depend on the resources of the Mara River Basin for their livelihoods, including small and large scale farmers, livestock and fisheries production, pastoralists and people living in towns and settlements across the region.