Introduction
Rangelands Reseeding Solutions is transforming landscapes and livelihoods in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions. With a mission to enhance climate resilience, the organization partners with pastoralist communities and cooperatives to restore degraded rangelands using innovative seedball technology. Rangelands Reseeding Solutions creates lasting ecological and economic impact by empowering local populations with sustainable solutions.
Community Engagement and Capacity Building
Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, and Garissa Counties are at the heart of our restoration efforts. Our partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs), smallholder farmers, and cooperatives foster sustainable landscape management practices.
Key Initiatives
- Climate-Smart Agriculture Training: More than 500 farmers trained in planting techniques, soil health management, and water conservation.
- Access to Climate-Resilient Seeds: Over 10,000 pastoralist families supplied with biochar-coated seedballs, including indigenous drought-tolerant grasses and trees.
- Demonstration Farms: Established 100 demonstration sites showcasing sustainable pasture management and agroforestry.
- Women and Youth Empowerment: Specific programs targeting women and youth, enhancing their participation in seed propagation and pasture management.
Ecological Impact
Restoration of Degraded Lands: Seedballs distributed across more than 5,000 acres of rangelands, contributing to soil stabilization, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation.
- Indigenous Tree and Grass Species Reintroduced:
- Acacia tortilis: Promotes nitrogen fixation and soil fertility.
- Balanites aegyptiaca: Supports shade, edible fruit production, and medicinal uses.
- Eragrostis superba and African Foxtail Grass: Provide drought-resistant forage, improving livestock productivity.
Economic Empowerment
- Buy-Back Program for Grass Seeds: Farmers benefit from guaranteed markets for fodder seed production.
- Fodder and Hay Baling Support: Enhances fodder storage, ensuring feed availability during droughts. Currently, the groups manually bale harvested fodder.
- Partnership with County Governments and NRT: Strengthens linkages with pastoralist communities for landscape restoration and sustainable livestock markets.
Environmental Conservation and Carbon Sequestration
Biochar-coated seedballs act as seedbanks, waiting for optimal conditions to germinate. This innovative approach reduces seed loss, enhances germination rates, and supports carbon sinking, aligning with Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan and global afforestation targets.
Impact Metrics
- Seedballs Distributed: Over 1 million seedballs produced and sown.
- Farmers Directly Supported: 5000 farmers in pastoralist communities.
- Tree Cover Increase: Contributing to Kenya’s goal of 10% forest cover by 2030 and the 15-billion-tree initiative by 2032.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for 2030
By 2030, Rangelands Reseeding Solutions aims to:
- Empower 10,000 pastoralist households with resilient landscape management practices.
- Establish over 100 additional demonstration farms.
- Support carbon credit programs through tree and grass restoration efforts.
- Expand partnerships with research institutions, NGOs, and government agencies to scale restoration.
