Tackling Land Degradation in Kenya: A Critical Priority
Land degradation and climate change are global crises that directly affect over 1.3 billion people worldwide, particularly those residing on degraded agricultural lands. These challenges are drivers of food insecurity, poverty, and environmental instability, necessitating urgent and innovative solutions. Kenya is no exception, grappling with severe deforestation, intense land-use competition, overgrazing, and erratic climatic changes. The country faces alarming annual forest loss of approximately 5,000 hectares, underscoring the critical need for effective and sustainable strategies to restore degraded ecosystems.
Restoring these landscapes is more than an environmental goal—it is a nature-based solution with far-reaching implications for local, national, and global efforts to combat climate change. Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is emerging as a comprehensive approach to address these challenges. FLR combines ecological restoration with the socio-economic well-being of communities, offering an integrated pathway to enhance biodiversity, productivity, ecosystem services, and the overall quality of life for affected populations.
FOLAREP: A Strategic Framework for Restoration
In a landmark effort to combat land degradation, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) to implement the Forest and Landscape Restoration Implementation Action Plan (FOLAREP) 2024–2032. This initiative focuses on Taita-Taveta and Makueni counties, located in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions, where land degradation and deforestation have severely impacted ecosystems and livelihoods.
FOLAREP aligns with Kenya’s National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy and supports the country’s commitment to global restoration targets such as the Bonn Challenge and the AFR100. These initiatives aim to restore 5.1 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, with the broader national goal of restoring 10.6 billion hectares by 2032. The plan’s domestication at the county level in Taita-Taveta and Makueni represents a crucial step toward achieving these ambitious objectives.
Funded by the UK PACT Nature-based Solutions Project, FOLAREP focuses on bridging policy gaps and enhancing institutional capacity to deliver nature-based solutions. This initiative integrates technical expertise, local knowledge, and community participation to ensure sustainable and inclusive restoration outcomes.
Developing FOLAREP: A Collaborative Process
Taita-Taveta and Makueni counties were selected for the initial implementation of FOLAREP due to their significant restoration potential and vulnerability to degradation. The domestication process began in November 2023 with the formation of technical working groups comprising diverse stakeholders, including national agencies, county governments, community representatives, and environmental experts.
The participatory approach ensures that the perspectives, needs, and aspirations of all stakeholders are integrated into the plan. A series of workshops, consultations, and technical reviews have guided the formulation of the restoration strategies, emphasizing inclusivity and collaboration at every stage.
In Taita-Taveta County, a milestone was achieved during a two-part workshop held in September 2024. The County Executive Committee and County Assembly endorsed the FOLAREP plan after extensive sensitization and deliberation. This approval marked the transition to the implementation phase, with Governor Andrew Mwadime voicing strong support for the initiative. The plan is now being finalized for official signing and launch.
Makueni County has also made significant progress, completing the formulation stages and adapting the national strategy to its unique local context. The county aims to restore 200,000 hectares of degraded land, leveraging FLR techniques to enhance environmental resilience and socio-economic outcomes.
Transformative Goals and Long-Term Vision
The Taita-Taveta FOLAREP aims to restore 226,420 hectares of degraded landscapes, incorporating forests, rangelands, croplands, riparian zones, grasslands, and urban areas. By employing integrated FLR techniques, this plan will accelerate Kenya’s national restoration objectives and serve as a replicable model for other counties.
Governor Andrew Mwadime emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges facing his county. “Our equitable share, given our large land area and small population, falls short of adequately supporting essential services. Therefore, I deeply value the support of our esteemed partners in achieving sustainable restoration outcomes,” he remarked.
A Model for Sustainable Development
The success of FOLAREP in Taita-Taveta and Makueni is expected to provide evidence-based recommendations for scaling up restoration efforts across Kenya. By addressing both ecological and institutional challenges, the initiative aims to deliver nature-based solutions that enhance ecosystem health, improve livelihoods, and build community resilience against climate change.
In conclusion, the Forest and Landscape Restoration Implementation Action Plan (FOLAREP) exemplifies Kenya’s commitment to tackling land degradation and climate change through collaborative, evidence-based, and nature-driven approaches. By restoring degraded landscapes in Taita-Taveta and Makueni counties, the initiative not only aligns with global restoration targets but also strengthens local ecosystems, enhances livelihoods, and promotes long-term sustainability. As a model for future restoration efforts, FOLAREP underscores the transformative power of partnerships and integrated strategies in securing a greener, more resilient future for Kenya and beyond.
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