Restoration of rangeland carbon sinks for increased community climate resilience and agricultural outcomes

Background

Rangelands in East Africa represent vast areas, providing livelihoods for millions of people and for a wide range of wildlife species. However, many of these rangelands are highly degraded and there is a need for restoration of the productivity of these ecosystems to ensure that they continue to provide critical ecosystem services. There are significant opportunities for increased carbon storage in rangelands as they have the potential to store significant amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC) if well managed, particularly given their spatial extent. In addition, restoration of degraded rangelands represents a critical pathway for conservation by reducing current pressures on protected areas due to land degradation and increased competition for resources. Healthy rangelands are important for local livelihoods by providing income from livestock as well as from tourism.

This project aims to provide a robust evidence base for sustainable management of rangeland health, informing management and monitoring by making this evidence available through user-friendly tools and platforms. This also includes dedicated capacity development modules targeted at women and youth. This enhances adaptive management of rangelands in the region, which is critical for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Through restoration of rangeland health and a diversification of livelihood options, poverty will be reduced, and local capacity is developed to improve rangeland health. Access to spatially explicit evidence on key indicators of rangeland health, including context-specific management options will be designed for each landscape, integrating both livestock and wildlife management and taking into consideration socio-economic context and gender dynamics.