Status Report. Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM) Sites in Baringo, Kenya 2022 RECONCILE 2022 1 CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Site Reports......................................................................................................................................... 4 Koitegan Community Forest ........................................................................................................... 4 Background ................................................................................................................................. 4 Flora ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Registration and Management ........................................................................................................ 4 Proposed Management Objectives .................................................................................................. 5 Post-PRM Progress: Status of Regeneration and Protection .......................................................... 5 Chuinei Conservancy ...................................................................................................................... 8 Background ................................................................................................................................. 8 Challenges ................................................................................................................................... 9 Proposed Interventions ................................................................................................................ 9 Kiborgoch Community Wildlife And Wetland Conservancy ......................................................... 9 Background ................................................................................................................................. 9 Lakes and Wetlands Around the Conservancy ......................................................................... 10 Rivers ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Economic Activities .................................................................................................................. 10 Proposed Interventions .............................................................................................................. 10 Irong Conservancy ........................................................................................................................ 10 Background ............................................................................................................................... 10 Main Areas for Development and Conservation ....................................................................... 11 Post-RMP progress (status of regeneration, protection) ........................................................... 12 2 Introduction This report was produced with support from the CGIAR Initiative Livestock and Climate. We would like to thank all funders who supported this work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. Between December 2017 and December 2021, the EU-funded Piloting of Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM) project in Kenya supported two community conservancies: one community forest association and one community rangeland initiative to carry out community resource mapping, rangeland resource rehabilitation, protection and management leading to the rehabilitation of 89,000 hectares of land, one borehole, one spring, and strengthening four community management committees. This was implemented in Mogotio Subcounty (Koitegan), Tiaty (Paka Hills), Marigat (Irong Conservancy), and Baringo North (Kabarion Conservancy). Now this work will be taken up, improved and scaled up under the CGIAR initiative Livestock and Climate (LCSR). This report provides the status of the current sites in order to identify next steps, interventions and supporting research and technical support. The new phase will focus on scaling up and scaling out the PRM project in Baringo and Wajir counties. The activities to be undertaken in the new phase are: • Scoping study to identify locations for new PRM initiatives • Piloting PRM in new sites • Strengthening PRM in already-established sites (Baringo) • Piloting PLUP (Participatory Land Use Planning) • Facilitation of baseline and landscape studies in PRM sites • Research on conflict and land-use An initial status analysis was conducted to understand the current situation on the ground and identify areas for intervention. Key threats to the rangelands include rapid loss of natural vegetation cover and species, soil erosion, overgrazing, uncontrolled bush burning, poor agricultural practices, weak natural resources management institutions and structures, and high poverty levels within the community. Due to the loss of vegetation cover, soil erosion has become a major challenge, especially in the rainy season, largely because of poor cultivation practices and overgrazing around wet grazing areas and watering points and environmental destruction. The main effect of soil erosion is rangeland degradation, specifically the emergence of bare land, big gullies, and poor-quality pastures, and low crop yields. 3 Site Reports Koitegan Community Forest Background The Koitegan Community Forest lies in a hilly area of approximately 169.2 hectares and serves an estimated population of 15,000. The land around Koitegan is privately owned, leaving the community forest as the only common resource for the community to graze their animals. The community forest also remains the only source through which the community can access rangeland resources including pastures, herbs for human and animal consumption, salt licks, and water. This has led to overgrazing of the natural vegetation. The land is also struggling with invasive species which colonized pastures and grazing areas. Springs and other water sources have also dried up. There is also encroachment into the community forest and its conversion to agricultural uses to satisfy land-use demands from the increasing population and illegal exploitation of forest products for charcoal, poles and logs due to the high demand from the increasing population. In addition, there are signs of soil erosion, deforestation and degradation of habitats from forest fires and invasive species. Flora Koitegan is characterized by low vegetation cover (below 15%) whereas the upper slopes have a vegetation cover of up to 40%, consisting of mainly planted trees, natural trees, grasses and shrubs. Koitegan Community Forest is home to the plant species shown in Table 2.1 Table 2.1. Flora of the Koitegan Community Forest Total area (ha) Indigenous Plantation (ha) Bushland (ha) Grassland (ha) Degraded area (ha) (ha) 169.2 150 80 160 160 120 Bushes and grasses are the dominant forest vegetation. These comprise native trees such as lelekwee, tipilikwee, kemelee, yemtit, kipiryokwee, leketetwee, ng’oswee, siryande, soyop eren, kelwonde, sepeltii, leng’nee, chepitee, muyeng’wee and others. Forest species include cypress, pine, blue gum, criphelia, croton, eucalyptus, jacaranda, azadirachta indica (mwarobaini) and acacia. Registration and Management Koitegan Community Forest is the only forest in Mogotio Subcounty. It was under the management of the Deputy County Commissioner until 2017 when it was lawfully registered as a community forest under the Kenya Forest Service and is now managed by Koitegan Community through their Koitegan Community Forest Association (CFA). 4 Proposed Management Objectives The community management forest plan is guided by the following objectives: • Raise awareness about farm forestry and improved farming methods. • Promote forest extension and sustainable on-farm nature-based enterprises for household socioeconomic development. • Promote improved farming practices and alternative energy sources. • Encourage soil conservation measures, compositing and household water harvesting. • Promote drought resistance crops and rearing dual-purpose cows for milk and meat (Sahiwal breed). Map 1. Koitegan Community Forest Post-PRM Progress: Status of Regeneration and Protection Through focused leadership of the Community Forest Association and the PRM approach, Koitegan Community Forest can engage all its members in the sustainable use and management of water, trees, and pasture and protect the forest from further environmental degradation. The future security of the forest hinges on effective leadership that will mitigate deforestation and improve resource management. Although the conservancy leadership has made a concerted effort to curtail deforestation by banning charcoal burning, the forest is still recovering from this long-time practice. Peninah, Assistant Chief, Kibomui Sublocation, said, “I believe that combating deforestation and overgrazing depends on public awareness. Leaders must educate community members about the importance of conservation and what is at stake if resources continue to be poorly managed”. 5 In addition to public education, community members and the CFA have on their wish-list several interventions that will further curb deforestation and improve water availability. These include afforestation, establishing a seedbed for selling seeds and involving the community in replanting efforts, constructing fences around germinating seeds, and investing in tourism to diversify the region's economy and provide alternative livelihood sources. The CFA has proposed to petition the Rift Valley Water Service Board to expand the Kapitoi Dam and put water tanks in place for irrigating seed beds. RECONCILE came into the picture at an opportune time—the community is becoming aware of the damaging effects of deforestation and now has a sense of urgency to do something about it. Through the recently concluded PRM project, RECONCILE strengthened the capacities of rangeland management institutions to better manage forest resources and achieve the interventions proposed by Koitegan leaders. The project also improved rangeland productivity through community-led rehabilitation and sustainability efforts. Photo 1. Koitegan Community Forest Association beehives supported by PRM through the CRIF (Community Resource Investment Fund) 6 Photo 2. Pasture regeneration after controlled grazing Photo 3. Planted Rhode grass to improve pasture quality 7 Photo 4. Planting of tree seedlings Photo 5. Planting of tree seedlings Chuinei Conservancy Background Chuine conservancy lies in the Northeastern part of Sandi within the Lake Bogoria landscape in Marigat Subcounty. It neighbours Ilchamus, Kiserian, Chebinyiny and Arabai. The conservancy is mainly inhabited by the Endorois community but also neighbours the Ilchamus community. The conservancy was formed to rally the community to take steps to conserve natural resources and develop nature-based enterprises to benefit current and future generations in the face of rapid 8 ecological degradation, especially the loss of indigenous trees and shrubs that support livestock and wildlife. Challenges Chuine Conservancy has historically provided essential services to local communities because it hosts rich and unique biodiversity. S survey carried out in 2009 on spatial variation and the value of ecosystem services rated Chuine second after Lake Bogoria National Reserve in terms of ecosystem and biodiversity richness and importance. However, the area continues to experience many challenges related to rapid changes in land use due to population increase and the impacts of climate change. Specific challenges include: • Overgrazing, which causes further degradation and resource conflicts. • Human-wildlife conflicts intensified by environmental degradation. • The spread of invasive species, which causes resource depletion and biodiversity loss. • Lack of infrastructure in the conservancy area. Proposed Interventions • Establish grass plots • Rehabilitate natural springs • Develop and implement land-use plans • Managing land boundary disputes • Public education and awareness-raising initiatives Kiborgoch Community Wildlife and Wetland Conservancy Background The Kiborgoch Conservancy covers approximately 880 hectares. It acts as a natural sponge by retaining water and moderating its flow and is a habitat for crocodiles and over 300 species of birds. The conservancy is fed by two large warm springs (Lake Bogoria Hotel spring and Chelaba Spring), and a smaller spring (Turtle Spring). This ecosystem has an important role in maintaining biodiversity, recreation, livelihoods and other services for local people. However, few studies have been carried out on its hydrology, biodiversity, and resource use. Some of the vegetation found in the conservancy includes reed, pyprus, acacia , Egyptian balanites, shrubs, prosopis juliflora and grass. There are also several medicinal plants community members have been using to cure diseases such as malaria and the common among others. The conservancy has over six hot springs which serve as a source of water. More research and mapping of these springs needs to be carried out. 9 Lakes and Wetlands around the Conservancy • Lake Bogoria • Lake Baringo • Lake 94 • Kesubo Wetland Rivers Five permanent rivers feed the Loboi River and the springs. There are also four seasonal rivers, the Chepkornis, Cheptugen, Kapchepsoiyo and Waseges. Economic Activities Surrounding the conservancy are human activities which include farming in the irrigation schemes in the three locations (Kapkuikui, Tembererwee, and Kamoskoi). The major activities carried out in the schemes include planting Kenyan seed maize, watermelons, onions and pawpaws. Proposed Interventions • Map, identify, and demarcate the conservancy as communal land to protect it from individually owned farms. • Protect, maintain and conserve the area by planting trees and grass. • Ensure the conservancy has adequate water and grass species throughout the year by rechannelling diverted rivers and springs into the conservancy and controlling and regulating grazing. • Ensure that the wildlife within the conservancy is preserved and there is an amicable co- existence between wildlife and human activities. Irong Conservancy Background Irong Conservancy covers an area of 614.5 km divided into subunits. The subunits include; • Irong Hill (approximately 300 acres), a dry grazing area for the community. • Wetlands such as Kapnarok, Majimoto, Kiborgoch and Kamar. • Kaptombes Archaeological Site, a newly discovered site with unique features including all-season grazing areas and wet grazing areas around settlements. Irong Conservancy is endowed with a wide range of natural resources. The rangelands offer multiple services and goods that facilitate pastoralists and agro-pastoralist livelihoods and the general well-being of wildlife. The systems in the rangeland include water systems (seasonal 10 rivers, boreholes and water pans, wetlands and Lake Bogoria). Other resources include pastures, salt licks and grazing areas, forests, and bees for honey production. Irong conservancy has traditionally been managed by community elders. The surrounding land is largely privatized and the community sets aside common grazing areas near wetlands, hills and some private land. There is a common understanding among members about resource sharing. Resources such as dams, boreholes and pastures on individually owned farms are accessible by community members based on this understanding. Irong conservancy is managed by a committee of 17 people drawn from the five locations that make up the entire Irong Conservancy. Main Areas for Development and Conservation • Rangeland resource management and improvement • Integrated Water Development • Infrastructure and accessibility • Wildlife conservation and management • Livelihoods development and protection • Enterprise development and tourism Table 2. Areas of intervention Area of Intervention Expected Outcome Rangelands resource management • Rehabilitation of degraded areas and improvement • Clearing and managing invasive species • Planned and well-coordinated grazing patterns • Improved development and settlement plans Integrated water development • Protected and conserved ware resources • Increased and functional water access points • Improves water management Wildlife conservation and protection • Key wildlife corridors and habitats maintained and protected • Increased wildlife diversity and number • Reduced human-wildlife conflicts • Reduced poaching of wildlife • Increased awareness of wildlife conservation Enterprise, tourism development • Increased conservancy and household income from tourism Improved Livelihoods • Improved livestock production and sales • Improved household income from livestock sales 11 Post-PMR Progress (Status of Regeneration, Protection) Irong Conservancy was rehabilitated to enhance healthy ecosystems that support wildlife, livestock, and human needs while improving the condition of damaged areas with appropriate regeneration measures. The Conservancy is mainly covered by natural vegetation that serves as grazing land and forage for livestock and wildlife. It also supports crop cultivation due to the fertile soils in some areas. RECONCILE seeks to conserve and improve these areas by championing and supporting sustainable land management practices. The Conservancy also has active grazing committees and grazing plans that help determine where and when to graze. The community here is involved in the active restoration of rangelands through the management of invasive species such as Prosopis juliflora. RECONCILE helped develop the rangeland management plan to achieve sustainable grazing and avoid overgrazing. The plan strengthened management and has given people a greater sense of control over their livelihoods. Coming up with the plan has helped the conservancy retain grass banks during the dry season, thus providing opportunities for pastoralists to access good-quality pasture. This has greatly reduced the risk of pasture depletion and subsequent livestock losses and environmental degradation. After the project, some farmers took the initiative of starting pasture production which has so far thrived. RECONCILE installed solar panels and a water pump system for the Tabarweche borehole to replace the old system which was difficult for members to use. The new pump is functional and still in good condition. 12 Photo 6. Constructing the Tabarweche borehole Where Sukta spring was found, about 1.2 ha of land was fenced to enhance its protection. This has facilitated the sprouting of another spring in the area and thus the need for protecting it in the next intervention. After the discovery of these springs, water collection chambers were constructed and new livestock routes were created to access the water. The distribution of water troughs to the boreholes of Irong Community Conservancy improved accessibility and availability for livestock and people (Photo 7 and 8). 13 Photo 7. Fenced area around Sukta Photo 8. Sukar spring Irong is also known for producing quality honey. RECONCILE supported women's groups with beehives to enhance honey production which has improved income generation at the household level. Several women's groups have taken up honey production since the project ended. Photo 9. Beehives distributed to women's groups Uprooting colonizing species in Lukuru was undertaken by selecting thirty members of the community to physically uproot invasive species. The total area uprooted was 2.5 acres within three days. The cleared land was used for regeneration and planting grass to increase pasture availability within the rangeland as shown in Photo 10. 14 Photo 10. Members of the community uprooting invasive species and livestock route clearing 15 Table 3. Summary of proposed sites and intervention areas in Baringo County Site Status Acreage Targeted Key issues Proposed interventions Managing Potential partners Vegetation institution Koitegan Old 418.102 Forest and Deforestation • Afforestation Community forest Baringo County site grassland Soil erosion • Awareness creation association government • Establish farm forests committee • Reseeding of degraded areas Chuinei New To be Grassland, Degradation • Rehabilitation of degraded Conservancy County government site confirmed shrubs Climate change areas committee Kiborgoch Invasive species • Clearing and managing Community Wildlife Human-wildlife invasive species And Wetland conflicts • Planned and well- Conservancy Overgrazing coordinated grazing patterns (KWCCA) • Improved development and settlement plans BCCA (Baringo • Land-use planning Community Conservancy) Kiborgoch New 49453.571 Grasslands, Degradation • Rehabilitation of degraded Conservancy County government site papyrus, Overgrazing areas committee KWCCA Management • Clearing and managing BCCA invasive species • Planned and well- coordinated grazing patterns • Mapping of resources • Strengthen the committee Irong Old 303.21 Grazing Invasive species • Rehabilitation of degraded Conservancy County government site lands, shrubs Degradation areas committee KWCCA Soil erosion • Clearing and managing BCCA invasive species • Planned and well- coordinated grazing patterns • Improved development and settlement plans 16 17