Browsing by Author "Nyariki, Dickson M."
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Publication A “win-win” scenario: the use of sustainable land management technologies to improve rural livelihoods and combat desertification in semi-arid lands in Kenya(South Eastern Kenya University, 2014) Mganga, Kevin Z.; Musimba, Nashon K. R.; Nyariki, Dickson M.; Nyangito, Moses; Mwang’ombe, Agnes W.Dryland ecosystems support over 2 billion people and are major providers of critical ecosystems goods andservices globally. However, desertification continues to pose a serious threat to the sustainability of the drylandsand livelihoods of communities inhabiting them. The desertification problem is well exemplified in the arid andsemi-arid lands (ASALs) in Kenya which cover approximately 80% of the total land area. This study aimedto 1) determine what agropastoralists attribute to be the causes of desertification in a semi-arid land in Kenya,2) document sustainable land management (SLM) technologies being undertaken to improve livelihoods andcombat desertification, and 3) identify the factors that influence the choice of the sustainable land management(SLM) technologies. Results show that agropastoralists inhabiting the semi-arid lands in southeastern Kenyamainly attribute desertification to the recurrent droughts and low amounts of rainfall. Despite the challengesposed by desertification and climate variability, agropastoralists in the study area are using a combination of SLMtechnologies notably dryland agroforestry using drought tolerant species (indigenous and exotic), grass reseedingusing perennial native and drought tolerant grass species (vegetation reestablishment) and in-situ rainwaterharvesting to improve livelihoods and by extension combat desertification. Interestingly, the choice and adoptionof these SLM technologies is influenced more by the additional benefits the agropastoralists can derive fromthem. Therefore, it is rationale to conclude that success in dryland restoration and combating desertification lies inprograms and technologies that offer a “win-win” scenario to the communities inhabiting the drylands.Publication Climate variability, land-use, pastoral and agropastoral livelihoods in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya(World Journal of Innovative Research, 2021-05-05) Amwata, Dorothy A.; Nyariki, Dickson M.Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) are experiencing climate variability, especially rainfall and temperature alterations. Rainfall is recognised as one of the critical parameters influencing land-use dynamics and consequently livelihoods in the arid and semi-arid areas inhabited by pastoral and agropastoral communities. Climate variability influences the type of livestock kept, crops grown and diversity of livelihood options. To understand how climate variability and change contribute to land-use changes, questionnaire interviews, Focus Group Discussions and direct observations were used to obtain information from 98 and 100 households in Kajiado and Makueni Counties respectively. In addition, desk reviews were carried out on government reports, previous studies and publications. The data obtained were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that land-use activities, land sizes, livestock numbers, type of crops grown and adaptation options vary across rainfall gradients and are some of the factors that determine if a household would diversify its farm and non-farm activities. However, there two production systems have shown some similarities in adaptation options such as migration and diversification. Therefore developments in the ASALs need to holistically adopt a systems approach to land management taking into consideration all existing land-use systems in the study area as a pre-requisite for sustainability of ASAL ecosystems.Publication Combining Sustainable Land Management Technologies to Combat Land Degradation and Improve Rural Livelihoods in Semi-arid Lands in Kenya(Springer Verlag, 2015-07-16) Mganga, Kevin Z.; Musimba, Nashon K. R.; Nyariki, Dickson M.Drylands occupy more than 80 % of Kenya’s total land mass and contribute immensely to the national economy and society through agriculture, livestock production, tourism, and wild product harvesting. Dryland ecosystems are areas of high climate variability making them vulnerable to the threats of land degradation. Consequently, agropastoralists inhabiting these ecosystems develop mechanisms and technologies to cope with the impacts of climate variability. This study is aimed to; (1) determine what agropastoralists inhabiting a semi-arid ecosystem in Kenya attribute to be the causes and indicators of land degradation, (2) document sustainable land management (SLM) technologies being undertaken to combat land degradation, and (3) identify the factors that influence the choice of these SLM technologies. Vegetation change from preferred indigenous forage grass species to woody vegetation was cited as the main indicator of land degradation. Land degradation was attributed to recurrent droughts and low amounts of rainfall, overgrazing, and unsustainable harvesting of trees for fuelwood production. However, despite the challenges posed by climate variability and recurrent droughts, the local community is engaging in simple SLM technologies including grass reseeding, rainwater harvesting and soil conservation, and dryland agroforestry as a holistic approach combating land degradation and improving their rural livelihoods. The choice of these SLM technologies was mainly driven by their additional benefits to combating land degradation. In conclusion, promoting such simple SLM technologies can help reverse the land degradation trend, improve agricultural production, food security including access to food, and subsequently improve livelihoods of communities inhabiting dryland ecosystems.Publication Indigenous Grasses for Rehabilitating Degraded African Drylands(Springer, 2019-05-23) Mganga, Kevin Z.; Nyariki, Dickson M.; Musimba, Nashon K. R.; Mwang’ombe, Agnes W.Drylands provide an important livelihood stream to its inhabitants across the globe through a range of products and ecosystem services. However, these fragile ecosystems are threatened and believed to experience various degrees of land degradation. Estimates of the landmass affected by land degradation in the global drylands range from 10% to 20%, a percentage that is increasing at an annual global rate of 12 million ha of soil lost from desertification and drought. African drylands are especially highly susceptible to severe degradation because of their poor soil structure aggravated by scarce vegetation cover. Causes of degradation in these environments are both natural and anthropogenic in nature. Change in vegetation cover, decline in soil fertility, biodiversity loss and soil erosion demonstrate degradation in African drylands. Grass reseeding using indigenous species is one of the promising sustainable land management strategies to combat degradation in the drylands. Reseeding programmes are aimed at improving vegetation cover and biomass, and they conserve the soil to an extent not possible by grazing and land management alone. Indigenous drought-tolerant grasses notably African foxtail grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), bush rye grass (Enteropogon macrostachyus) and Maasai lovegrass (Eragrostis superba) have produced promising rehabilitation outcomes. Previous studies in African drylands have demonstrated the potential of such indigenous forage grasses in improving both vegetation cover (plant frequency and densities, basal cover) and soil hydrological properties (increased infiltration capacity, reduced runoff and sediment production) as indicators of rehabilitation success. Despite their comparative and widespread success, natural and anthropogenic challenges persist. This makes reseeding programmes a risky and often expensive venture, especially for the resource-poor pastoral communities in African drylands. Despite the risks, grass reseeding using indigenous pastures remains a viable sustainable land management option to combat degradation in African drylands. However, to ensure its continued success in the long term, multifaceted approaches and strategies that will integrate land and water management and seed systems suitable for African drylands need to be developed, strengthened and promoted.