The Communities Behind Grassland Restoration

In Westgate Conservancy in northern Kenya, a group of women gather each morning after milking their livestock to work on a grassland restoration site.

The site, one of three these women have restored, is contained by a fence of spiky acacia branches, meant to keep wildlife and livestock out. The day begins with planning on what needs to be done—some will repair fences as needed, others will use a spade to dig half-moon-shaped trenches a few inches deep, where they sprinkle a handful of grass seed. The trenches help retain the little bit of rain that falls in this region, helping to kick-start the seeds’ growth.

The land inside the fence stands in stark contrast to the land just outside. This land is lush. The grass is green, thick and towers over the women’s heads. Seeds ripen on the grass tops, and the red dirt is hardly visible through the dense cover.

Healthy grass is the foundation of healthy livelihoods in Kenya’s northern rangelands, feeding the livestock that people depend on not just for nutrition, but for economic security and cultural connection.

A Generation of Change

When Ngeti Lempatia was a young girl, healthy grass was a given, wildlife was plentiful and there was enough vegetation for livestock to thrive. Now an elder in Westgate Conservancy, the land around her has become degraded and depleted of wildlife, like the now endangered Grevy’s zebra.

A combination of unconstrained grazing and increased drought in a changing climate led to these changes over Lempatia’s lifetime. The community was suffering—cattle had to be brought over long distances to find grass, sometimes into unfriendly territories where herders were at risk of conflict with other communities.

In those days, she wondered what could be done to bring life back to the land that was once lush. She started attempting to restore small portions of land by fencing out wildlife and livestock, allowing the land to rest and recover after intense grazing. This helped ensure plentiful grass in the community, so young herders wouldn’t need to travel far to graze their livestock.

But men in the community discouraged her, telling her it was not possible to restore bare land. She pressed on, believing restoration could work. “If we manage our land well, our land will again be good and our children will stay home,” she said.

Restoring What Was Lost

Lempatia persisted in her work to restore grasslands in Westgate. With support from groups like Grevy’s Zebra Trust, Lempatia learned more about grassland restoration and encouraged other women to join in with her.

In the areas Lempatia and the other women have restored, there is plenty of grass for livestock, even in dry seasons. There’s even enough for wildlife, meaning animals like the Grevy’s zebra have bounced back in the region. Lempatia’s impact on the Grevy’s recovery has earned her the nickname “Mama Grevy.”

The benefits of healthy grass go beyond simply providing nutrition for livestock and wildlife. Land covered in grass retains more water, making it more resilient to droughts that are becoming more common. Deep grass roots hold carbon in the soil, keeping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Communities can even sell that stored carbon as a credit to companies looking to offset their carbon emissions. The funds earned help communities invest in schooling and healthcare. And the grass seeds that ripen on well-rested plots are collected by women in the community and sold on the market, putting money in the hands of women who have always had to depend on their husbands for finances. Many women are using funds from seed collection to start small businesses, investing in themselves and their communities.

“My hope for the future is that all the rangelands become healthy everywhere,” Lempatia said, “where the wildlife, livestock and people will thrive together.”