Women combatting soil erosion in Kenya

Soil erosion and associated land degradation is a widespread problem across Northern Kenya with far-reaching implications for the food, water and energy security nexus.

The Samburu women of Namunyak Conservancy have taken action.

Increased soil erosion is one of the main drivers of land degradation in East Africa’s agricultural and pastoral landscapes. As soil resources are rapidly being depleted due to increased erosion, food and water security and ultimately, livelihood security is under threat.

While environmental studies provide the much-needed base to understand soil erosion problems, they fail to explain the socio-economic drivers of unsustainable land use change.

The population in East Africa has experienced an exponential growth from an estimated 6–12 million in the 1920s, to 24 million in 1950, 56 million in 1980s to 173 million in 2017.

However, scapegoating the problem to overpopulation and overexploitation of natural resources lacks understanding of the complex human-environment interactions.

The ongoing drought has exacerbated the problem. Due to the lack of vegetation, there's been nothing to buffer the little bit of rain that the landscape receives, resulting in more erosion.

As part of our Rangeland Management program, The Sarara Foundation's Eco Rangers have been educating and coaching community members on erosion control methodologies. The women, and in particular those who are involved in the Milk to Market program, have taken up the challenge.

Using items that are readily available, such as sacks and dried wood, the women build gabions and install them in eroded areas ahead of the anticipated short rains in November and December.