In the biodiverse Tana Delta of Kenya amongst the Lamu Counties, the Restoration Initiative (TRI) is making significant strides to restore degraded landscapes and support sustainable livelihoods. This critical area, which provides essential ecosystem services and supports local communities, faces threats from unsustainable resource use. TRI’s project focuses on integrated natural resource management, promoting sustainable land use, and developing green value chains.
The Tana Delta, Kenya’s largest delta and the second largest in East Africa, is a critical area for biodiversity and local livelihoods. However, unsustainable resource use has led to significant degradation. TRI’s project in the Tana Delta focuses on integrated natural resource management, promoting sustainable land use, and developing green value chains. The project builds on a land-use plan developed with local community participation, identifying priority areas for restoration and sustainable management.
Progress and Key Achievements
The Tana Delta TRI project has brought 60,299 hectares of land under restoration and 116,000 hectares of land under improved management, which has drastically enhanced the ecological health of the region. Local communities have been significantly impacted, with 85,464 direct beneficiaries experiencing upliftment through various training sessions and capacity-building activities. Moreover, the project facilitated investments in green value chains that boost household income and provide an alternative livelihood. Eleven functional cooperatives for six value chains have been established to scale up production of honey, milk, poultry products, chilli, sesame (sim-sim) and sunflower, with six business plans developed. In total, 5,045 households (2,369 males 2,674 females) benefited from nature-based livelihoods, earning US$ 280,223. In addition, products valued at US$ 460,077 were consumed at the household level. The recent certification of the Tana Delta Honey brand by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is set to boost honey sales and market access. By equipping local communities with the necessary skills and knowledge, the project has fostered a strong sense of environmental stewardship and community ownership.
Innovative Practices and Livelihood Diversification
One of the innovative practices introduced by the TRI project is the establishment of pasture seed banks. These seed banks support the local community in growing and managing pasture to ensure sufficient supply during droughts. The restored grass sequesters carbon, supports livestock production, and enhances soil health. In 2023, an additional 106.5 hectares of pasture seed banks were established, bringing the total to 561.48 hectares.
The project has also focused on developing green value chains by way of the Green Heart Initiative. Eleven functional cooperatives have been established, focusing on nature-based enterprises such as fish farming, beekeeping, crop production, and agroforestry. These activities have directly benefited 5,045 households, generating earnings of USD 280,223 and providing products valued at USD 460,077 for household consumption.
Certain obstacles, such as overgrazing, have inevitably presented themselves, and to address these challenges, the project has implemented innovative restoration techniques and promoted community-driven solutions. The establishment of the Shakako Community Conservancy, measuring approximately 1,800 hectares, is a significant step towards realizing the project’s target of having 116,867 hectares of Indigenous Community Conservation Areas (ICCAs) in the Tana Delta.
Future Directions for the Tana Delta
A critical achievement of the TRI project in the Tana Delta has been its contribution to policy development. The project has facilitated the creation of several key policies, including the Livestock Grazing Control Act, which provides a framework for regulating grazing and ensuring sustainable land use. These policies support the long-term sustainability of restoration efforts by aligning with national and local climate action plans.
Promise lies ahead for the Tana Delta, with opportunities to expand restoration and sustain best land management practices. TRI Kenya Tana Delta’s support of new county climate change policies led to accessing financing from the Locally Led Climate Action Programme (World Bank/National Government – USD 6,299,319) and County Climate Change Fund (County Government of Tana River and Lamu – USD 496,598). The project has left a profoundly positive impact on the land and people of Kenya’s Tana Delta, and will lay the foundation for further restoration efforts moving forward.
