Kenya prioritizes grassland restoration to combat desertification

During the UNCCD COP17 held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the conservation of grasslands emerged as a central focus in the international effort to combat land degradation. Kenya has committed to initiatives aimed at restoring and sustainably managing its grazing lands to protect water resources, food security, and biodiversity.

These efforts are part of broader global and regional frameworks, including the Landscapes of Life agenda led by WWF and the UNCCD’s Rangelands Flagship Initiative. The focus on these ecosystems is critical for Africa, where arid and semi-arid lands face intense pressure from soil degradation, droughts, climate change, and loss of vegetation. Grasslands, which cover more than half of the Earth's land surface, are essential for supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, particularly pastoralist communities.