Why restoration of Kenya's arid regions is gaining new impetus

Animals drink from a pool at one of the county government sand dams across River Mutwaewa in Mwingi West. [File, Standard] Over the years, the development of arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) has only been on paper, despite successive governments setting up ministries and departments to focus on these areas. Yet, these dry areas account for over 80 per cent of Kenya's landmass, support over 80 per cent of the country's wildlife and are home to deeply rooted pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on livestock. However, fortunes are set to change as various stakeholders from the government and private sector come together in a new initiative to find ways of improving the ecosystem in the ASALs. Wycliffe Matika, Africa programme manager at International Tree Foundation (ITF) for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, says it is urgent to fully focus on the ASAL region's untapped resources as an opportunity, not a problem. "Today is a momentous day because we are discussing forgotten ecological zones as critical landscapes, from climate action, biodiversity and livelihood transformation," he said during an ASAL Restoration Roundtable workshop in Nairobi that included donors, communities, researchers and policy makers. ASAL restoration also tackles Kenya's development agenda-directly advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 13 on Climate Action and SDG 15-Life of Land (combating desertification and restoring degraded ecosystems). At ITF, Matika explained, they are involved in tree planting and restoration, particularly focusing on endangered indigenous species. Out of Kenya's 1,100 indigenous tree species, 143 are threatened with extinction, he said. "We focus on species such as East African Stinkwood and East African Camphor, which are more than flora, they are part of cultural identity, medicine, and ecological memory." Matika cited several challenges in ASALs, among them water, which is a crucial component in the restoration process. "You cannot intervene in ASAL areas without a water component. Water access, climate vulnerability, and security risks from resource-based conflicts are all realities here," he said. He suggested a shift in conversations and policy that put ASALs at the centre of climate and conservation strategies, and urged stakeholders to align their research and resources with grassroots action. Models from places including Kitui and Kajiado are already leading change, restoring land, protecting biodiversity and building community resilience. "But, they need support-incentive, infrastructure and inclusion," Matika said. Sylvia Buleti, associate scientist in agroforestry at CIFOR-ICRAF, said there is a need to integrate trees into ecosystem restoration, because their value extends far beyond the forest floor. "Integrating trees into ecosystem restoration is essential. It enhances biodiversity, not just for insects, but for wildlife as a whole," she said. The presence of diverse tree species plays a critical role in supporting life systems. They create habitats, strengthen food webs, and provide crucial resources. Trees improve livelihoods by providing fruits and nuts, medicinal plants, timber, and fuelwood-key materials that rural communities depend on every day. Their role in delivering ecosystem services, such as water regulation and soil stabilisation, is just as vital, Buleti said. "Forests are central to our survival. They offer clean air, help us adapt to climate change, and support the conservation of biodiversity." She highlighted the importance of migration corridors-natural pathways used by animals to move between habitats. These corridors are increasingly threatened by deforestation and land degradation. Destroying forests breaks these migration paths, leading to ecosystem collapse. Forests also nurture human wellbeing through the provision of recreational spaces that reduce stress, encourage physical activity, and reconnect people with nature, which is deeply restorative, both mentally and physically. "Trees are part of our health systems. They offer natural remedies and contribute to food and nutrition security through fruit and nuts that are rich in essential nutrients," she explains. Scientists say restoring forests and integrating trees into the landscapes is not just an environmental issue-it's a health, livelihood, and survival issue, where the well-being of people, animals, and ecosystems is deeply interwoven. "We must embrace restoration, not occasionally, but as a daily priority," said Albert Luvanda, regional director at Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri), Kitui. He said restoring degraded landscapes combats desertification, prevents soil erosion, and revives the productivity of land. It also brings back tangible resources such as wood and non-wood forest products (like resins and gums), and ecological services, including improved soil fertility, water retention, and biodiversity conservation. Dr Luvanda emphasised that the health of the environment is inseparable from the well-being of people and animals. He highlighted that restoring ASAL areas also supports livestock productivity. For instance, trees such as Acacia offer nutritious fodder, while integrating bee-forage trees supports honey production, a valuable source of income and food security. "The return of trees brings back diversity. Birds, insects, grasses, and pollinators increase, helping with pollination and seed dispersal, which is key to sustaining the ecosystem itself." Senior Conservator at Kenya Forest Service Mwai Muraguri said they are on the frontline of Kenya's ambitious goal to plant 15 billion seedlings by 2032, aimed at increasing forest cover to over 30 per cent from the current 8.83 per cent forest cover and 12.13 per cent tree cover, according to Forest Resources Assessment Report, 2021. "If we have to achieve this goal, restoration in ASALs is not optional," Muraguri said, adding, "It is the foundation of resilience for people, wildlife, and the environment." Muraguri said at the heart of the transformation is the protection and propagation of indigenous tree species, which provide non-timber forest products such as gums, resins, honey, traditional medicine, and fodder-crucial for both human health and household income. "Through research partnerships, particularly with institutions such as Kefri, over 15 resilient indigenous species are being promoted for dryland reforestation," he said. Muraguri said restoration efforts are restoring degraded lands and creating social cohesion, as people take ownership of their local ecosystems. Traditional customs, such as taboos against cutting sacred trees, are being revived to enforce conservation from within the community. "When people see that trees bring food, jobs, and health-they begin to protect them."

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