Adapting to drylands in Eastern Africa key to survival of biodiversity, livelihoods

Drylands occupy 75% of Eastern Africa and have a high economic value. In spite of this, their understanding remains scanty. Understanding how to adapt to the drylands of Eastern Africa is the key subject in a series of meetings taking place this week in Nairobi and Arusha. The Nairobi meeting, dubbed the National Dialogue workshop on Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Drylands of Eastern and Central Africa, seeks to validate the findings at national level in each of the three countries where research was conducted. The three countries are Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya.

In Arusha, 27 and 28th October, researchers will meet with regional policy makers to identify cross-cutting issues and discuss opportunites for policy change.

Drylands, as defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) comprises of land within the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid aridity zones (UNEP 1997). They are characterized by low, erratic and highly inconsistent rainfall levels and high coefficient of rainfall, limited by soil moisture, and show a gradient of increasing primary productivity. They occupy 90% in Kenya, 75% of Ethiopia and 67% of Tanzania. More than 60 million or 40% of the population live in drylands of Eastern Africa (estimates of 2002) covering an area of about 2 million km2.

As such, routinely gathering appropriate data on the real values of dryland biodiversity and livelihoods is advisable. This is one of the key findings from a 24-month study on drylands and biodiversity to make a significant contribution to understanding high priority regional policy issues and potential reforms that will favor improved and sustainable biodiversity conservation, while enhancing livelihoods in pastoral areas of the Eastern and Central African region.

The study was conducted by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE), and Egerton University as the coordinating institution. The research was supported by Association for the Strengthening of Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).

Specifically, the research endeavoured to: i) inform policy harmonization in sustainable management of dryland and pastoral areas biodiversity, ii) develop tools that will guide sustainable investment options in dryland and pastoral areas; and iii) promote a regional approach to drylands and pastoral areas conservation and use.

“We need to look for existing opportunities and work with partners like the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in each country to understand how best we can help implement what they already have in their plans and where we can increase their knowledge and understanding of biodiversity, drylands and livelihoods”, said Dr Michael Waithaka, ASARECA Manager, Policy Analysis and Advocacy Programme.

 

University of Southampton student joins PLE

Saidimu: Exposure to scientists with interests similar to mine is a great experience

Saidimu T Leeseto from the University of Southampton has joined the People Livestock and Environment team in Nairobi. A PhD candidate at the University’s school of Management, Saidimu is interested in climate risk (mainly droughts) focusing on the impact on social and economic well being.  He is currently collecting his doctoral research data in Samburu, Kenya. He is examining Risk Management focusing on the “The Role of Risk Management in Pastoral Policy Development and Poverty Reduction: A System Dynamics Approach”.
“PLE hosts scientists in my area of interest and in joining the department I will be able to interact with them at both the professional and personal level”, says Saidimu. He continues to say that a thorough literature synthesis also indicates that many studies have ILRI-PLE collaboration thus making it appropriate to join the team and explore areas of future collaboration.