Livestock farming in Kajiado and Narok Counties in Kenya is set for a major facelift following the launch of a new project that is aimed at helping the local community upgrade their herds.
Rising population and unpredictable weather events continue to complicate pastoralism due to scarcity in rangeland and natural resources such as water and pasture, scientists are recommending a shift in livestock management.
The project dubbed Land for Life is a transboundary project being implemented in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania landscape by the World Wide Fund for Nature – Kenya (WWF-Kenya) in partnership with the South Rift Association of Land Owners.
Overstocking
It is aimed at improving the wellbeing of the local people while protecting nature and securing a healthy, connected landscape for wildlife. The landscape has many important wildlife corridors allowing elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs, wildebeest and other animals to move seamlessly following traditional migration routes between Kenya and Tanzania.
Further, the landscape contributes significantly to the national economies of Kenya and Tanzania and is one of Africa’s most globally significant landscapes for conservation. However, the landscape faces immense pressure from growing human population, land conversion, degradation, unsustainable infrastructure development, climate change, water scarcity and conflicts over natural resources.
These pressures on the landscape threaten ecosystem functions and livelihoods. Dr Martin Mulama, WWF-Kenya Southern Kenya Landscape Manager notes that instead of keeping large unproductive herds, pastoralist communities need to keep fewer herbs that guarantee more yield and income.
While adding that overstocking had adverse impacts on the environment, Dr Mulama further noted that there is a need to deal with the drivers of climate change so as to make conservation efforts successful.
“As an organization, we primarily focus on community livelihoods because we believe that the community has to be at the centre of conservation for the conservation goals to be achieved,” Mulama said.
The programme will also help to connect communities and bring partnership with programmes in Kenya and Tanzania and continue to create a space for dialogue between Kajiaod and Narok Counties and Kenya and Tanzania on wildlife conservation policy issues.
