CADEP-SFM Resources


  1. Production of Aloe Bitter Gum from Aloe secundiflora

    Aloe secundiflora is a drough tolerant plant. It grows well in arid and semi-arid areas. The species is indigenous to Kenya and is locally used as; medicine for human and livestock, a fermeting agent in local beers and a border plant. Other uses include bee forage and rangeland rehabilitation....


  2. Making Soap Using Aloe vera

    Aloe vera grows well in arid and semi-arid areas and prefers well draied, light sandy to loamy soils. The species is exotic in Kenya and is only found under cultivation....


  3. Charcoal Production from Prosopis Using Improved Earth Kiln

    Charcoal production from wood is one of the major economic activities in drylands of Kenya. In many areas, the practice is not sustainable due to over-exploitation of trees from woodlands. However, in Marigat Sub-County, Baringo County, charcoal production is sustainably undertaken through use of Prosopis, a species invasive within the County. Charcoal production in Marigat is carried out by Charcoal Producers Associations....


  4. Production of Livestock Feed from Proposis juliflora Pods

    Proposis juliflora, commonly known as 'Mathenge', was introduced in Kenya to rehabilitate degraded drylands. Prosopis occurs mainly in Nothern Kenya, parts of Rift Valley and Coastal regions....


  5. Reclaiming Land Invaded by Prosopis for Agricultural Production in Marigat, Kenya

    Prosopis juliflora was introduced in drylands of Kenya in the 1980s to combat desertification as it is a drought tolerant tree. However, due to the species fast growth and prolific seeding, it became invasive supressing all other vegetation within its vicinity....


  6. Making Briquettes Using Charcoal Fines

    Wood-based energy in form of firewood and charcoal is the main source of energy for cooking and heating in Kenya. Increase in population and high cost of alternative energy sources have increased demand for wood-based energy, leading to unsustainable harvesting of trees especially for charcoal production....


  7. Growing Melia volkensii for Improved Livelihood and Environmental Conservation in Makueni County, Kenya

    Over the years, rainfall in Makueni County has been erratic leading to low crop production, hence the need for other investment alternatives such as tree growing. Melia growing was introduced on-farm aftre indentification of the species as suitable for growing in drylands conditions and training model farmers by KEFRI. One such farmer is Mr. Jonathan Kituku. The farmers were trained on Melia seed processing, seedling production, tree establishment and management....


  8. Natural Pasture Improvement for Enhanced Livestock Productivity in Makueni County, Kenya

    Natural pasture grass farming was introduced in Makueni after several years of crop failure and environmental degradation within the County. The practice was identified and promoted after consultation between relevant research institutions within Makueni count and the local community....



  1. A Guide to Melia Volkensii Growing in the Dryland Areas of Kenya

    Melia volkensii is a multipurpose deciduous tree that is endemic to drylands of Eastern Africa with natural distribution range in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania (Figure 1). It grows in sandyclay and shallow stony soils but prefers sandy soils with good drainage from 0-1700mabove sea levelin areas with mean annual rainfall of between 300 – 800 mm and temperature range of 26- 38oC....


  2. Guideline on Effective Measures for Combating Desertification for Achieving Sustainable Development in the Horn of Africa

    Desertification is the process of land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from natural and human activities, as influenced by climatic variations. Human activities are the major causes of desertification and include; overgrazing, over-cultivation, increased fire incidences, deforestation, and over-exploitation of groundwater......


  3. Measures for Combating Desertification: Case Studies from Horn of Africa

    Land is a major asset for many communities in Africa who rely on it for their livelihood and socio-economic needs. However, the current high population growth, over-exploitation of forests and woodlands, poverty, unsustainable land use practices, overgrazing, as well as wildfires continue to exert pressure on land, leading to its degradation.........



  1. 1st CADEP Regional Technical Training Workshop for Horn of Africa on Collection, Documentation and Sharing Good Practices for Combating Desertification

    The African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and Horn of Africa (AI-CD) has been developed with an objective of making nations and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa resilient to climate change by promoting measures for combating desertification. This objective will be achieved through three outputs namely; Building networks, Knowledge sharing, and Improving access to finance.........


  2. Proceedings of the 1st Regional Forum

    The Government of Kenya (GoK), through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) have collaborated on various projects with the Government of Japan (GoJ) through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the last 30 years, since 1986, in development of forestry in Kenya. This collaboration has mainly concentrated on research and development of forestry in the drylands of Kenya, and capacity development by sharing of information,........