Environmental experts have called on African governments to intensify efforts and allocate more funding for drylands restoration, as these ecosystems are crucial to the region’s ecological balance and socio-economic stability.

Speaking in Nairobi during the Dryland Sustainable Landscape Impact Programme (DSL IP), East Africa Regional Stakeholders Workshop, Bora Masumbuko, Senior Programme Officer at IUCN, said drylands provide essential ecosystem services. Yet, these ecosystems receive little attention and are not well understood.

“These ecosystems not only support livestock production but they also offer other services such as climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and water filtration, playing a critical role in maintaining environmental stability. That is why more investment and focus is needed,” said Masumbuko.

Environmental damage

According to her, restoring these drylands is critical to reversing the environmental damage caused by years of degradation.

Apart from that restoration of these ecosystems is also essential to achieving broader sustainable development goals in the region, particularly in addressing food insecurity, poverty, and environmental degradation.

Though the Rangelands Atlas, shows that the region’s drylands are more resilient than previously thought, Masumbuko says that restoration is necessary to unlock their full potential for carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and sustaining livelihoods.