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....
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....
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....
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....
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....
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....
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....
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....
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is an official agency of the Government of Japan, responsible for administering the bulk of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Japan is strongly committed to addressing climate change and is demonstrated in Kenya by forestry being one of JICA’s priority sectors....
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....
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......
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.........
Author(s): Yasuko Inoue , Bernard Kigwa
Abstract
There is a large area waiting for re/afforestation in Arid and Semi-Arid areas (ASALs) in Africa, while majority of the investments are distributed to relatively humid and fertile areas considering the profitability and risks...
Author(s): James K. Ndufa1, Jason G. Kariuki, Hisaya Miyashita, Stephen F. Omondi, Bernard Kamondo and So Hanaoka
Abstract
Drylands of the world-over are more affected by impacts of climate change. In Kenya, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) occupy over 80% of the land area and are increasingly being recognized as the new frontier for afforestation programs....
Author(s): James Ndufa , Hisaya Miyashita, Nellie Oduor, Samuel Auka
Abstract
Melia volkensii tree growing in drylands of Kenya have a potential of reversing environmental degradation and at the same time improved farmer’s livelihoods through sale of high quality timber. Melia planted on-farms support smallholder farmer’s livelihoods and play an important role in global carbon cycle because of it short rotation....
Author(s): James K. Ndufa, Hisaya Miyashita, Jason Kariuki, Peter Nduati, Solomon Kipkoech, Peter Sirayo, Saito Katsuro, Jan Vandenabeele and Samson O. Ojung'a
Abstract
Site index is the most commonly used measure used in forestry to determine the potential site productivity and provides key information for forest management practices and planning. It is determined using species-specific site index models that take into account climatic and edaphic factors....
Author(s): Jason Kariuki , Hisaya Miyashita, Valentor Okul, James Ndufa
Abstract
Melia volkensii is a fast growing drought tolerant and termite resistant tree occurring naturally in drylands of Kenya. The species produces high quality mahogany-grade timber that is harvested in 10-12 years. Overharvesting of trees of good form over time has resulted in reduction in quality of remnant populations....
Author(s): Stephen Omondi, Japhet Rotich, Steve Runo, So Hanaoka, James K. Ndufa
Abstract
Melia volkensii is a monoecious, insect-pollinated tree species endemic to semi-arid region of east Africa valued for high quality termite resistant timber, however, limited knowledge of its mating patterns is hampering advancement of its genetic improvement in Kenya...
Author(s): Nellie Oduor , Hisaya Miyashita, James Ndufa
Abstract
Melia volkensii an indigenous tree species growing in arid and semi arid areas in Kenya has shown promise as a fast-maturing species. Its timber is highly valued for furniture, joinery and interior panelling. This study investigated the wood quality of 10, 12 and 14- year-old Melia volkensii trees grown at Tiva, Kitui. Height and diameter at breast height were taken before the trees were felled...
Promoting Nature Based Technologies for Enhanced Resilience to Climate Change in Horn of Africa
Author(s): Wanjiku Josephine , Musingo T. E. Mbuvi, Josephine Wanjiku, Paul Tuwei, Honjo Yuki, Sylvia Mwalewa
Abstract
Much of the Horn of Africa is dry and highly degraded and suffers from frequent and severe droughts. Therefore, accelerating technology transfer through knowledge sharing and promoting adoption of existing good practices was identified as a strategy to collectively address natural resource management (NRM) challenges in Horn of Africa (HoA)....
Author(s): Wanjiku Josephine, Musingo T. E. Mbuvi, Paul Tuwei, Honjo Yuki
Abstract
Many communities in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries depend on natural resources for their livelihood and provision of ecosystem services. However, over utilization of forests and woodlands, and unsustainable agricultural practices continue to cause environmental degradation. Recurrent and emerging environmental challenges create a need for knowledge co-creation through comprehensive partnerships and capacity development....
The African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and Horn of Africa (AI-CD) was developed against the background...
4th AI-CD Regional Forum for Horn of Africa
“Contribution of Networking and Knowledge Sharing towards Improving Access to Finance,” 9th December 2020...
Proceedings: 3rd Regional Forum for Horn of Africa
“African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and Horn of Africa” 14th to 16th May 2019 November
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.........
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,........