The Long Run 4C Call webinar series: Natural Capital/Laikipia Wildlife Forum - Using Livestock to Restore Land Health

Brief windows into using a holistic approach to community management

Rangeland Rehabilitation & Management Programme

Richard Hatfield

Step 1: Eco-literacy: reading & understanding the land

Its all about the state of: Water cycle Mineral Cycle Energy flow Community dynamicsAnd how the available tools impact each:Rest Fire Technology Grazing Animal impact

Step 2: Planning & Mgmt

eg Il Ngwesi communityLaikipia, Kenya

However the real question remains on the human side - Step 3: Engaging local mindset

EG Step 4: ExploringthePresentthruthe Past

EG Step 5:ArticulatingDesired Future

Its all about LOCAL CONTEXT

EG Step 6: linking the desiredfuture to action:Action Planning

24 Il Ngwesi leaders most important learnings 2008-2010

Environmental literacy Environmental management Resource governance

Poor mgmt causes bare land (24) The value of planned grazing (24) People must be united (24)

Its possible to heal bare land (24) Animals have to be bunched for good effects (19)

Everything exists as one whole (24)

Overgrazing is time not numbers (24) Herding must be active (22) Leaders must be unified with the community (24)

Covered land brings springs (24) Nothing can be ignored (18)

Land needs to be fed (24) Pay attention to a 3-part life (24)

Bare land brings drought (24) HM can bring prosperity (24)

If you love cows, love grass (24) Information must reach ground level to be effective (24)

Animal hooves are farmers (21) Holisticgoal has reactivated cultural practice (15)

Any soil has seeds (18) It compliments our culture (20)

Overresting can spoil land (24) The value of planning everything (20)

Think about life/culture not animals (21)

Step 7

• Linking outwards to the bigger social, ecological, economic and political contexts that affect your situation and welfare

Wholes within wholes & alignment of purpose

Eg

• Nation• District• Region• Community

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EG Level 2: Laikipia LWF rangeland programme purpose

A Laikipia-level informal rangeland network is gathering support for, creating awareness of, and fostering actions that are consistent with sustainable rangeland management.

Local communities, private ranches, NGOs and government officials are working together, experimenting with putting best-practice principles into practice, learning, and building

relationships.They are expanding their understanding of the resource base, the tools available for

managing it, and the impact of those tools on the resource base.They are redefining their relationships towards each other and towards the natural environment, coalescing around a vision for ‘the-Laikipia-of-the-future’ producing

prosperity and peace.A number of best-practice learning sites exist amongst communities and private ranches across the district resulting in covered soils, increased grass and tree production, restored

natural water sources, improved livelihoods and sustainable communities.There is solid support from policy-influencers and –makers for adopting and spreading

best-practice; whilst practice in Laikipia is becoming a model for Kenya and Eastern Africa.Formal and informal decision-making processes involve and benefit all rangeland

managers.

•To help members to use natural resources sustainably

•To have a common voice on issues affecting members of LWF

•To provide a platform for members to work together on natural resource issues

•To bring people together to resolve challenges they face/affecting their lives and livelihoods with regards to natural resources

•Finding help, knowledge & money from the outside to support the above point

•Facilitator and coordinator, but not implementer

•To protect all life & how to build a future & transfer knowledge

•To manage what we have

•To represent the interest of members and to organize for coordinated action

EG Level 3: Laikipia Wildlife Forum: Why do we exist as LWF?

What do Laikipians want to achieve?

What does Laikipia need to have to achieve the desired Laikipia?

What do we need to do to achieve the desired Laikipia?

Good health (physical and emotional)

Stable families and communities

Peace and security Prosperity Respect for all, by all Maintain open spaces Pride in Laikipia

Food security A productive environment

(covered soils, high fertility, flowing water)

Good quality education A meaningful occupation for

all Good services and

infrastructure Shared values Enterprising people who know

how to work together Equal opportunities for all

Build a common sense of purpose

Restore and enhance land health

Good knowledge, information and decisions on the best options for Laikipia

Produce good leadership Participation and

responsibility by all in what affects them, and authority to take on these responsibilities

Strong networks linking groups of people

EG LEVEL 4: ‘THE FUTURE WE WANT’: A WORKING VISION FOR LAIKIPIA COUNTY“An empowered, socially and economically stable, food secure and just Laikipia, which serves as a model for Kenya ” Unpacking this: