Restoration of the wetland and ecosystems connectivity
Restoration of the wetland and ecosystems connectivity
Our Objective
This project supports the rehabilitation of wetlands and their ecological corridors in northern Kenya, combining community stewardship with sustainable livelihoods.
Figures
The project was launched on March 17, 2022 and is currently in progress.
Summary
In northern Kenya, young pastoralists are leading a new wave of restoration. Traditionally herding cattle, they now dig semi-circular bunds to trap rainwater and revive degraded land, helping bring life back to exhausted grazing areas. Their work is part of a broader effort involving local coalitions, community committees, and county governments to secure six wildlife and livestock corridors and document vital water and pasture resources.
Alongside this, nature-positive enterprises, from sustainable harvesting to local tree nurseries, are giving communities new ways to earn incomes without degrading the land. Combined with participatory land-use plans and traditional knowledge, these efforts build fairer, more resilient rangelands where people and wildlife can coexist. The hope is for a future in which restored soil, healthy vegetation, and thriving communities support both local prosperity and biodiversity.
Project Connections
Part of the solutionscape
Protecting water, wetlands, and commons under competing claims
Timeline
Consolidating and sustaining key restoration efforts
Project Update June 2, 2024
New trees and rehabilitation areas in Gambella, Kenya
Project Update December 11, 2023
A total of 1,400 native trees were planted in the Gambella region, in Kenya, as part of a collaborative effort to restore the 65-acre wetland. After the seeds were planted last December 2023, the Wetland Management sub-committee took on the task of ensuring the successful growth of the plants. Established a month earlier, in November 2023, the sub-committee comprises riparian landowners, local administration members, and is also supported by the Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) of the Waso Mara catchment and the local community. Located in Meru County, the Gambella wetland and springs play a vital role in the region, especially during the dry season. They benefit both nearby and distant pastoralist communities. However, due to overutilization, mismanagement, and climate change these environmental assets have been heavily affected. At the Wyss Academy, we are working closely with our partner CETRAD, and collaborating with local stakeholders to formulate a shared vision and implement various interventions aimed at protecting the remaining parts of the region, including the crucial main spring of the wetland. Additionally, we aim to create an inventory of water resources. The rehabilitation initiative for the Gambella wetland started with a sensitization meeting in November 2023, involving communities and stakeholders from Meru and Isiolo Counties. This comprehensive planning effort emphasized the critical need for protection and restoration, resulting in a consensus among participants. Our collaboration extends to various stakeholders in Kenya, such as local communities, riparian landowners, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Meteorological Department, the Water Resources Authority, the National Environmental Management Authority, and the National Land Commission. To address water supply beyond the wetland, infrastructure locations have also been identified. Other ongoing activities include hydro-geological surveys, environmental impact and topographical assessments
Team
- Project contact
Project contact
Dr. Boniface Kiteme
Associated Senior Partner
Other Projects in this Solutionscape
Saving wetlands for people and wildlife, co-design knowledge & engagement
Saving wetlands for people and wildlife, co-design knowledge & engagement
