ASAL Water Towers, Kenya: Ecosystem services assessment methodologies and early findings
Transcript of ASAL Water Towers, Kenya: Ecosystem services assessment methodologies and early findings
Assessment of the: Ecosystem Services in Kenya’s ASAL Water Towers (Marsabit &
Samburu)
Presentation by:
Prof. Bancy M. MatiFAO Consultant
Presentation at the:
NBSAP Revision Workshop Nairobi, Kenya
26th May 2016
Contents1. Methodology for ES assessment
2. Defining ASAL Water Towers
3. Main features of ASAL water towers in Marsabit & Samburu
4. Sources of ecosystems threats in ASAL water towers
5. Opportunities for safeguarding water & ecosystem services
6. Restoring ecosystem services through water management
7. Policies, Legal & Institutional Frameworks bearing on ASAL water towers
8. Way forward
METHODOLOGY FOR ES ASSESSMENT
1) Literature review of studies and existing information and methodologies on land use change and ecosystem services provision in ASAL water towers.• Review of available documents and records on background to ASAL Water
towers, Marsabit and Samburu Counties respectively, including land and water issues, resource use and management, challenges and opportunities
• Identification of information/data gaps
2) Scoping mission for rapid assessment of ecosystem goods and services from water towers in Samburu and Marsabit counties (obtained Field Report)
3) Analysis of threats and opportunities for securing ASAL water towers.4) Preparation of the Report of the Assessment of Ecosystem Services in
Kenya’s ASAL Water Towers -Marsabit & Samburu5) Development of the Draft project proposal on Integrated and Participatory
Management of ASAL Water Towers in Northern Kenya: Building Incentives to Secure Ecosystem Services (developed Draft ProDoc)
BASELINE CONDITIONS IN KENYA’S ASAL• Kenya is predominantly ASAL. ASALs cover
490,000 km2 (84% of total land mass) • Annual rainfall ranges from 150- 550 mm in arid
zones, to 550-850 mm/yr in semi-arid zones,• ASALs are home to:
– Over 36% of the human population,– Over 70% of the livestock herd, and – Over 65% of the wildlife.
• About 74% - 97% of the people live below poverty line in Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Wajir & Mandera
• ASALs suffer from natural and human induced disasters - Since the 1970s, serious droughts occurred in 1972, 1974/75, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983/84, 1991/92, 1995/96, 1999/2000, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2011 – (disasters have become more frequent; with droughts or floods every 3-4 yrs)
• In the ASALs, two to four million people require food relief each year
WHAT ARE ASAL WATER TOWERS?Water tower refers to mountains and highlands which are catchment areas of major rivers & streams. Five major water towers in Kenya are; Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares, the Mau escarpment, Cherangani Hills and Mt. Elgon.
ASAL Water Towers - are “mountains and major hills in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL), which are sources of rivers and/or ephemeral streams and having natural features and ecosystems which differ (are more humid) from the surrounding lowlands”
MAJOR WATER TOWERS IN MARSABIT AND SAMBURU COUNTIES
County Mountain/hill Height above sea level (m)
Catchment area ( km2) Water source for
Marsabit
Mount Marsabit 1,707 6,300 Lake Paradise, Local springs
Mount Kulal 2,285 7,000 Local springs and streams
Hurri Hills 1479 Local springs and streams
Mount Furroli 1,887 Local springs and streams
Samburu
Matthews Range 2,688 974 Uaso Nyiro and Milgis Rivers
Ndoto Mts 2,636 930 Milgis River, Local springs
Nyiru Mts 2,752 455 Local springs and streams
Kirisia Hills 2,500 920 Uaso Nyiro and Milgis Rivers
Ecosystems of Mt. MarsabitGof Sorkorte Dika (Crater lake) Forest mists
Ecosystems threats facing Mt. Marsabito Deforestation: Forest cover has declined by 42% since the 1980s o Degradation of water resources, with some boreholes and springs drying up.o Sedentarization of pastoralists and unresolved issues on access to grazing areaso Poaching, banditry and ethnic conflictso Overgrazing and land degradation.
Ecosystems of Mt. Kulal are threatened with deforestation, agricultural expansion, over-grazing, soil erosion and uncertain land tenure
ECOSYSTEM OF MT. KULAL (Marsabit County)
• Mt .Kulal is a biosphere reserve since 1979• Annual rainfall up to 1,200 mm
occurs• Mt. Kulal has a montane zone with
rainforest, mist, forest and grassland• It is a source of several springs and
GW recharge• Mt. Kulal als contains red ochre,
which is used for cultural decorations• The rich volcanic soils are
increasingly used for agriculture to complement traditional pastoralism
NDOTO MOUNTAINS (SAMBURU COUNTY)
The Ndoto massif attracts sufficient rainfall to support a small area of evergreen montane forest, in sharp contrast to the expansive surrounding plains.
MATHEWS RANGE (Samburu County)
The mountain forests are an important water catchment area. The forests contains giant cedars and a rare species of ancient cycad, one of the oldest plant types on the planet, endemic to the Mathews forests.
Matthews Range is home to elephants and other large mammals, and was one of the last places in northern Kenya to have wild Black Rhinos. The last Black Rhino in the Mathew's was poached out in the 1990s
SOURCES OF ECOSYSTEM THREATS IN ASAL WATER TOWERS
• Droughts and Floods• Water Scarcity• Climate Change• Rapid Population growth and Ethnic Conflicts• Lack of Food and Nutrition Security• Encroachment on ASAL Water Towers• Deforestation and Wood Extraction• Land Degradation• Breakdown in Traditional Management Systems• Declining Grazing Resources• Pollution• Invasive and Alien Species• Biopiracy and Poaching• Insecurity
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAFEGUARDING WATER AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN ASAL WATER TOWERS
• Catchment protection and Tree planting• Disaster Management and Preparedness• Protected Areas for Conservation of Biodiversity• Rainwater harvesting /soil & water conservation• Promoting Sustainable Livestock Production• Improving Livestock Management and Marketing• Promoting Use of Energy Saving Cookstoves• Rangeland management• Diversification of ASAL Economies• Infrastructure Development• Upholding the Use of Indigenous Knowledge• Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience• Financial Incentives for Ecosystem Conservation
Programmes, e.g. PES
Soil and water conservation on vulnerable areas
1305/02/2023
Catchment protection and erosion control
Tree planting on catchment areas
Rehabilitation of denuded grazing lands
Photos by B. Mati
Water harvesting/ conservation structures for rangeland restoration
Grass reseeding for rangeland rehabilitation
FOG HARVESTING INTERVENTIONS
Fog harvesting equipment in the Ngong Hills of KenyaSuch equipment could be used to harvest fogs in the ASAL water towers
Photo by B. Mati
POLICIES, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS BEARING ON ASAL WATER TOWERS
• Historical Background• National Laws with bearing on ASAL Ecosystems• Policies with bearing on ASAL Ecosystems• Implementation of the National Land Policy• International Treaties and Agreements• Government Institutions with activities in ASAL
Water Towers• Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs)• International institutions
Kenya’s Vision 2030 supports increasing forest coverSLM is embedded in Kenya’s Vision 2030’s -Social Pillar under the
Vision for the Environment• It envisages “a people living in a clean, secure and sustainable
environment”• intensify conservation of strategic natural resources in a
sustainable manner without compromising economic growth. • Kenya intends to have achieved 10 per cent forest cover by 2030.• Farmland and dryland tree-planting initiative• Rehabilitation of degraded water catchments areas while
promoting on-farm forestry;• Implementation of compensation for environmental services to
include carbon markets;• Promote use of biotechnology in forest conservation;• Develop a sustainable land use policy for common grazing areas
Institutions engaged in Water & Ecosystem services in the ASAL water towers
GOK Ministries SAGAs International Orgs Local Orgs
MoALFMENRMoLCounty Govts
KWTANDMAAFFAWRMANEMAKMSKFSKWSNat Land Comm.ENNDA
• UN (FAO, UNEP, UNDP, WFP)
• International orgs (WB, DANIDA, Sida, USAID, GIZ, EU, SNV, VSF Germany,
• Int. Research (CRAF, ILRI, IPGRI, WWF, IUCN )
• INGOs (CARITAS, TNC, World Vision, CARE, Farm Africa, Plan Int, AMREF, World Vision, Red Cross, Child Fund
CBOs, FBOs, CBO, ITDG, ELCI, GAF, IMC., APHIA-Plus-NAL, Pastoral Associations e.g. NRT, Samburu Aid in Africa (SAIDIA), RAMATI, 600 women groups, 900 youth groups and 130 CBOs
• Develop income-generating activities on non-consumptive use of natural resources
Banks, Rural finance
Incentives for Ecosystem Services in ASAL water towers
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Landscape restoration• Revegetation of denuded
catchment areas• Erosion control structures (with
flood protection)• Gully rehabilitation• Water harvesting systems• Reseeding denuded grazing
areas
•Develop dedicated legal and policy framework for ASAL water towers Implement interventions curtail human encroachment on catchment areas•Review existing laws & policies to remove disconnect at national & county•Development projects should protect ecosystems in ASAL water towers
Livelihood diversification• Diversify livelihoods to relieve
pressure on overuse of natural resources (sand, timber, firewood, charcoal)
• Access to credit to invest in sustainable agro-pastoral systems • Support to develop local level savings and investments in land
resources
Increased productivity of livestock-based economies• Restoration of grazing areas• Livestock fodder bulking • Provision of livestock water to
within reasonable distance• Improve agro-pastoral systems
• Training in protection and rehabilitation of natural ecosystems
Best practices:
IES-added incentives from programmes and investors
IES
Forest ActNDMA PolicyPeace building
Community forestry
Eco-tourismPES schemes (pastoral-based)
Technical assistance capacity building PES SchemesMatch-funding
IES package adds:Current finance:
•National Govt•County Govts
NGOs & CBOs
Current and
• Strengthening of Pastoral Associations, development of infrastructure and supply chains to improve access to livestock markets
• Improved rangeland management • Finance to develop grazing and livestock management and marketing• Catchment protection to enhance dry-season water availability
• Finance to construct water control and anti-erosion structures• Finance and construct water harvesting structures
Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES)
Private Sector
Development partners
THANK YOU!
For Details contact: [email protected] is a rehabilitated spring in Isiolo