LWF participated in a two-day workshop on 4th and 5th June, 2024, aimed at formulating the Laikipia Rangelands Management Bill. This workshop brought together stakeholders, from the National Government, FLLoCCA, CSOs including Hand in Hand East Africa, Laikipia Conservancies Association, and representatives from the CLMCs in Laikipia from Mukogodo West and Mukogodo East, along with community representatives from Sosian, Salama, and Segera wards.
The workshop, organized by the County Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries in collaboration with the LISTEN project, convened various stakeholders for a brainstorming and drafting session of the Rangelands Bill.
This follows the cabinet’s approval of the Laikipia Rangelands Management Policy, paving the way for the department to translate the policy guidelines into actionable legislation to ensure sustainable management and utilization of rangelands across the county. The CEC of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Mr. Dennis Kasoo, who is steering the process, indicated that the policy will help address the challenges faced in rangeland management, promote ecological balance, and enhance the livelihoods of communities dependent on these ecosystems in the county.
The workshop commenced with a highlight of the policy statements in the Laikipia Rangelands Management Policy, 2024.Some of the policy statements on resource use and management includes:
a) Mapping out all degraded areas and developing strategies for rehabilitation and restoration of those areas and/or degraded ecosystems, including areas within urban centres.
b) Formulating and implementing a strategy for increasing vegetation cover in the rangelands through tree planting and capacity building on agroforestry techniques.
c) Supporting and strengthening existing traditional governance structures on rangelands management and proper range resource use.
These policy statements align with our thematic area of Rangeland Management. With the experience and commitment shown by LWF to restore degraded lands through the management of invasive species, grass reseeding, and pasture production to ease pressure on the natural forests within the greater Laikipia Landscape, we were appointed to sit on the County Level Steering Committee on issues of Rangeland Management.
This is key, and LWF will continue to offer insights on the Bill, drawing from our past experiences in this thematic area.