If we can warm the planet, we can cool it down
By PD columnist, June 9, 2022Everyone reacts differently to the new realities brought on by climate change. Many people discuss climate change and global warming with a great deal of worry and helplessness. The fear is perhaps caused by climate change communication driven by messages that focus on the challenge rather than presenting solutions.
However, it is challenging to separate fear from awareness of future disasters fronted by climate change, isn’t it? Others would not pay attention because they believe they are removed from this reality. At the same time, others find it easier to deny the existence of climate change altogether!
Working with Justdiggit, I have been at the front line of climate action, engaging in landscape restoration for the past four years. I have the opportunity to work with, techniques that are innovative, tested while collaborating with locals who have observed the effects of climate change on their ecosystem firsthand. Observing the re-vegetation on previously barren, wind and flood eroded terrain restored optimism and hope for greener, cooler earth for the vulnerable communities and myself personally.
Our work with local communities in the southeastern counties of Kenya and parts of Tanzania has opened my eyes to the possibility of reversing the detrimental effects of climate change. If we (humans) are capable of warming the planet through our actions, we are also capable of cooling our planet down. We employ regreening strategies such as rainwater gathering by digging bunds, tree restoration through Kisiki Hai technique, and grass seed bank development.
These projects are owned and implemented by land-dependent communities. These projects have positively impacted the communities and have directly led to the transformation of their previously heavily degraded lands. The transformation from barren lands and the loss of cattle due to long droughts to verdant grounds with sufficient forage to last them through the seasons has contributed to resilient ecosystems and livelihoods.
To date, Justdiggit has brought back 9.2 million trees alongside our local implementing partners. By establishing the grass seed banks, thousands of Maasai women are now able to not only restore their degraded land but also earn a living through positive harvesting activity.
How do we accomplish this? The first step is to sensitise and bring onboard local community members as the key drivers of change. We arrange sensitisation meetings with the local populations and together we develop the necessary interventions in their respective ecosystems.
Working with local communities provides access to a wealth of experiences. The learning process is always two-way traffic. We do not do this as a courtesy to the communities but recognise this approach as one of the most crucial ingredients for success. Indeed, most of the techniques we use are adapted from age-old traditional practices hitherto practised by communities like the Olopololi system of grazing management.
During implementation, we make sure that everyone has the space and opportunity in those communities to make a positive impact through their work. Women, for instance, are engaged more in grass seed multiplication, which is done through grass seed banks set up near the villages. The women groups manage the entire production process and sell the seeds to Justdiggit for at least Sh600 per kilo. This is extra income for the women and the most affordable and sustainable way to obtain grass seeds needed for landscape restoration through reseeding of rangelands.
Men are engaged in sustainable grazing management and protection of the grass seedbanks. They are trained in pasture management to ensure that they lead the process to recovery even as they get better access to pasture for their livestock. The youth also play an integral role in the work in the farmer’s natural regeneration work as well as the grass seed banks.
It takes everyone to act, whether directly doing something that addresses the problem or by supporting those who do something about climate change.