Kenya has renewed its commitment to restoring degraded rangelands and strengthening drought resilience as the country joined the global community in marking the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in Vipingo, Kilifi County.
Speaking during the event, leaders highlighted the critical role rangelands play in supporting livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and economic development, while calling for urgent action to address land degradation and the growing impacts of climate change.
Globally, rangelands cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface and support nearly two billion people, including over 500 million pastoralists who depend on the ecosystems for their livelihoods.
In Kenya, rangelands account for approximately 80 percent of the country’s land area and serve as the backbone of economic activities such as livestock production, tourism, trade and cultural heritage.
“There is an urgent need for global solutions to land degradation, drought resilience and ecosystem restoration in rangelands in order to protect livelihoods and secure the future of communities that depend on them,” officials said during the observance.
The event brought together key stakeholders in environmental conservation, including representatives from the United Nations and government agencies, to discuss strategies for sustainable land management and climate adaptation.
Officials noted that Kenya’s ambitious programme to plant and nurture 15 billion trees by 2032 is expected to play a significant role in rehabilitating degraded landscapes and restoring critical rangeland ecosystems.
“The National Programme to plant and nurture 15 billion trees by the year 2032 will go a long way in restoring vast components of our rangelands,” the leaders said.
The tree-growing initiative is part of the government’s broader environmental agenda aimed at increasing forest cover, enhancing water catchment protection and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought also served as a platform to highlight the challenges facing dryland communities, including prolonged droughts, declining pasture, soil degradation and increasing pressure on natural resources.
Senior international officials attended the event, including the Director-General of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, underscoring the global significance of efforts to restore degraded lands and build climate resilience.
Participants called for stronger partnerships between governments, communities and development partners to safeguard rangelands and ensure sustainable livelihoods for future generations.
Kenya committed to safer, cleaner oceans for nation’s prosperity and posterity, DP Kindiki declares
