Environment conservationists push for sustainable restoration of rangelands in ASALs
By Yobesh Onwong’a (MyGov)
Kenya is actively engaged in national rangelands restoration efforts, aiming to revitalize degraded ecosystems and support sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking in during a rangeland’s restoration forum in Nairobi, Principal Secretary State Department for Environment and Climate Change Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, in a speech read by Environment Secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop, said that these efforts are part of a broader national commitment to landscape restoration, with specific targets for restoring forests and rangelands.
“The Ministry is also working towards increasing tree cover, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing land degradation,”
“On the same score, environment conservationists are pushing for the prioritization of sustainable restoration of rangelands in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, to cushion these regions from the effects of extreme weather conditions,” said Dr. Ng’eno.
The PS said that Kenya has pledged to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded forests and rangelands by 2032 by planting and growing 15 billion trees.
He said that land conversion to farmland, overexploitation, frequent fire regimes, the introduction of non-native plants, overexploitation of water resources, overutilization of wild species, and the long-term effects of climate change are some of the major factors that lead to dryland degradation.
“The preservation of biodiversity, food security, economic growth, livelihoods, and human well-being will all be enhanced by the sustainable management of drylands,’’ said the PS.
Dr Ng’eno disclosed that the southern rangelands of Kenya are 50% degraded and 40% highly eroded, with hard pans, bare ground, and the intrusion of invasive species being the main indicators of land degradation.
“There are many invasive species, primarily Ipomea carnea, Ipomea hildebrandtii, Gutenbergia (Erlangea), Prosopis juliflora and Parthenium hysterophorus. Over the previous 20 years, excessive logging, overstocking, and intensive farming have caused the disappearance of native vegetation,” said the PS.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director General Dr. Mamo Boru said that community led restoration programs are being supported and implemented in Arid and Semi-arid areas under a four year ‘National Child Project programme.’
Dr Boru said that rangelands are not just vast useless landscapes; but they are the lifeline of millions of pastoralists and Agro-pastoralist communities in the drylands.
“They support biodiversity, contribute significantly to our national economy, and play a crucial role in climate resilience and food security,” he said.
Dr Boru reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to working collaboratively with all partners to ensure that the policies, strategies, and programs developed are inclusive, practical and impactful.