Rangeland ecosystem management

Along with restoration, rangeland ecosystem management techniques were integrated with local customary knowledge and approaches to enhance sustainable management of shared grazing lands. The ecosystem management process aimed to conserve major ecological rangeland services and restore natural resources while meeting the socio-economic and cultural needs of local communities. Some of the approaches employed included:

  • Creation of community environmental management committees, training them and equipping them for rangeland resource governance.
  • Integrating local knowledge and customary practices in development of local rangeland management by-laws and codes of conduct.
  • Integrating sustainable resource use of all rangeland resources including shrubs, grasses, water resources, and local wildlife through adoption of conservation techniques coupled with entrenchment of traditionally sustainable grazing patterns.
  • Linking local environmental management committees with county technical resource pattern from relevant departments for sustainable support and strong resource governance.
  • Existence of customary structures, knowledge and skills on ecosystem management.
  • Community willingness to form resource management committess and give them authority to act on behalf of community.
  • Readiness of local government administration e.g. chiefs to endorse and support community resource governance structures and efforts.

Rangeland management is sustainable only when integrated approaches that place local communities at the center of the governance and managemetn of their own resources are employed.