Reviving Rangelands 2: Overseeding degraded rangeland with a diversity of native plant species

At Kiborgoch Conservancy, Baringo County, efforts to test this idea for rangeland rehabilitation took center stage. In a fenced 10-acre plot, some 200 semi-circular bunds were overseeded with a mixture of grasses and legumes to enhance both soil fertility and biodiversity, contributing to long-term rangeland restoration. The vegetation composition and soil formation in these multi-species bunds will be compared with semi-circular bunds which were overseeded with a single grass species to evaluate the benefits of diversity.

The rangeland regeneration trial was set up in a rangeland which is threatened by the invasion of Prosopis juliflora, a non-native invasive tree locally known as Mathenge. To ensure sustainable management, Native PEP handed over six tree poppers to the conservancy management for removing young plants of Prosopis juliflora. For older trees, removal at the base followed by burning the rootstocks is essential to ensure they do not regenerate.

A significant breakthrough for Native PEP was its expansion into Paka Location in Tiaty Subcounty, Baringo County, an area with minimal support for sustainable land management. By October, two communities had fenced a combined 40-acres for fodder production and received native grass and legume seeds for planting.

These activities, when combined, represent a holistic approach to rangeland restoration that not only improves ecological conditions but also creates opportunities for the local communities to engage with and benefit from these efforts. Through collaborative action and scientific innovation, Kiborgoch Conservancy is helping pave the way for a more sustainable future for Baringo’s rangelands.

Prepared by Simon Thangu