Restoration of Degraded Rangelands in Embu County: A case study of Mbeere South

Abstract

Rangelands are under constant threat of continuously being degraded due to factors such as; increased population, overgrazing, overexploitation of natural resources and climate change. This research aimed at investigating ways of restoring degraded land in small-holder pastoral rangelands. The research was conducted in Mbeere South (Kiritiri) in Embu County, from January to March 2017. Systematic random sampling design was used in data collection. Research findings show the main causes of degradation to be overgrazing and bush encroachment with a percentage of 43.33% and 16.67%, respectively. Other causes of degradation affecting the rangeland are settlement, climatic change, and sedentralization, with a percentage of 6.67%, 6.67%, 3.33%, respectively. Moreover, a good percentage of people are not aware of the causes of rangeland degradation. Restoration methods practised by the local people showed that there is potential for restoring degraded rangeland and thus increase in the productivity and performance of the livestock. However, some members of the community were not aware of the restoration methods which in some way hinder the restoration of degraded rangelands.