Kenya's natural ecosystems, including its forests, wetlands, and soils are under significant pressure from human activities such as deforestation, extractive agriculture, and urbanization. The country's rich biodiversity, which includes unique wildlife and plant species, is also at risk.
To ensure that these critical ecosystems are preserved and restored, Kenya must focus on key strategies such as reforestation, soil restoration, and wetland restoration. By targeting these areas, Kenya can boost its ecological resilience, support sustainable agriculture, and improve climate adaptation efforts.
Reforestation: Restoring Kenya's Forests and Carbon Balance
Kenya’s forests are vital for maintaining biodiversity, supporting water cycles, and mitigating climate change. However, deforestation has led to a drastic reduction in forest cover, with only about 7% of the country’s land area under forest. This loss has significant environmental consequences, including soil erosion, reduced water retention, and the displacement of wildlife.
The government should increase its implementation ambition for the National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign, targeting the planting of at least 15 billion trees by the year 2032. Consequently, the initiative anticipates each individual living in Kenya to plant at least 30 trees a year.
To meet this ambitious campaign better and faster, the government needs to establish a non- state youth-led organizations pathway, where the government works closely with solution- driven and action-oriented youth organizations such as the Ecosystem Restoration Alliance of Kenya (KERA) to deliver self-crafted action plans for a given region they are appointed by the government to lead and coordinate the implementation of this specific pathway, with ongoing campaign plans and activities accelerated.
The government should also rethink and devise innovative and actionable efforts reforest degraded areas such as the Mau Forest Complex and the Aberdare Ranges. Incentives by the government, nonprofits, corporates, and development partners can bolster community- based tree planting programs can help ensure long-term success, where local populations are directly involved in forest management and conservation efforts.
There is also a need for sustainable logging practices to balance economic use of forest resources with conservation goals. Implementing policies to reduce illegal logging and promoting agroforestry can contribute to long-term forest health. Using modern technologies like satellite imaging and drones to monitor forest cover can also help prevent illegal logging and land encroachment. Strengthening law enforcement is also necessary to protect existing forests and prevent further deforestation.
Soil Restoration: Tackling Land Degradation
Kenya’s agriculture, which forms the backbone of the economy, is heavily impacted by soil degradation. Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and unsustainable farming practices threaten food security and livelihoods, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
Encouraging farmers to adopt no-till farming, crop rotation, and agroecological farming techniques can reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility. Training programs should be implemented to spread knowledge about organic farming and sustainable land management.
The government should promote the use of organic fertilizers and composting methods to restore soil health. Additionally, tree planting in farmlands can help maintain soil structure and prevent erosion. KERA is undertaking these noble actions at smaller scale due very limited resources at her disposal and is inviting supporters and partners to ensure implementation at scale amongst rural communities.
In Kenya’s Arid and Semi - arid Lands, water conservation techniques, such as building water catchments and terraces, should be promoted at scale to restore degraded soil and improve agricultural productivity. Additionally, introducing drought-resistant crops will help improve food security in these areas. In regions prone to soil erosion, creating terracing systems and water catchment infrastructure can help slow down runoff and promote water absorption. This will ultimately lead to healthier soils and more productive farmland.
Agroforestry systems; where trees are planted alongside crops can improve soil health by reducing erosion, enriching soil nutrients, and creating microclimates for better crop growth. Promoting diverse farming systems that include legumes and cover crops can further restore soil fertility.
Wetland Restoration: Safeguarding Critical Water Ecosystems
Kenya's wetlands, which include vital areas like the Tana River Delta, the Lake Victoria Basin, and coastal mangroves, play an essential role in biodiversity conservation, water filtration, and flood regulation. Unfortunately, many of these wetlands are facing degradation from pollution, encroachment, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
The government should enforce regulations that prevent the encroachment and pollution of wetlands. This includes legal frameworks that limit land reclamation for agriculture and urban development. Engaging local communities in wetland restoration and management will lead to better conservation outcomes. Eco-friendly livelihoods, such as sustainable fishing and ecotourism, can be promoted as alternatives to destructive activities in wetlands.
Holistic and Integrated Approach to Restoration
Achieving meaningful ecosystem restoration in Kenya requires a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together the government, local communities, the private sector, and international partners. This can be successfully achieved through public private partnerships, policy alignment and incentives and strengthening environmental education through public awareness and educational programs in all learning institutions.
By adopting community-based approaches, enforcing stronger policies, and incentivizing both the private sector and farmers, Kenya can restore its degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and combat the effects of climate change
Ecosystem restoration in Kenya is an urgent priority, and reforestation, soil restoration, and wetland restoration should be at the core of these efforts. By adopting community-based approaches, enforcing stronger policies, and incentivizing both the private sector and farmers, Kenya can restore its degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and combat the effects of climate change. Successful restoration requires a collective effort from the government, communities, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the private sector, and it will ultimately lead to a more resilient and sustainable future for Kenya.
Last but not least, KERA as youth-led and not-for-profit startup with very proactive approaches to large-scale landscape restoration cannot achieve these bold ambitions alone. With continuous support, cooperative collaboration and meaningful partnerships, KERA will continue to deliver transformative landscape restoration actions at the community level, positioning Kenya as the global ecosystem restoration leader in line with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
Supporting KERA which is a grassroots and nationwide mass movement of ecosystem restoration champions is one of the key strategic measures Kenya and development partners should consider in the quest for meaningful and large-scale sustainable ecosystem restoration in the country.
Written by: Booster Wabuyabo