UNCCD DOMESTICATION THROUGH WDCD – PROGRESS IN THE PREPARATION TO
COMMEMORATE THE WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN KENYA
Venue:
Tarasaa Secondary School, Tana Delta District, Tana River County, Coastal
Region
BACKGROUND
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
recommended to the UN General Assembly for the negotiation for the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the effects of drought, particularly in Africa.
Negotiations began in early 1993. The Convention was concluded and opened for signing in June
1994 and entered into force on 26th December 1996. The Government of Kenya signed the
convention in October 1994 and ratified it in June 1997 and therefore has the obligation to
domesticate it.
At the national level, the UNCCD calls for the implementation of activities aimed at prevention
and/or reduction of land degradation, rehabilitation of partly degraded lands and reclamation of
degraded lands through National Action Programmes to be developed by all parties. The first
National Action Programme (NAP) was prepared in year 2002 and for about 10 years Kenya has
been implementing it. NEMA is coordinating the review of this NAP to be in line with the 10 Year
UNCCD Strategy as a requirement stipulated in the decisions of the Conference of the Parties
(COP) of the UNCCD and other regional initiatives designed to implement the convection. The
works is at the printing stage after the NEMA board endorsed it.
In Kenya, over 80 percent of the land surface is vulnerable to desertification and drought. These
areas support over 10 million people, which is about 30% of the total population. In addition,
50% of the livestock populations, a wide variety of wildlife that forms the basis of Kenya’s tourism
industry are found in these areas. Most of the affected population is characterized by
widespread acute poverty, chronic food shortages, inadequate social services as well as harsh
climatic conditions resulting from frequent and prolonged droughts. That is the reason why
Kenya must focus attention to these areas so that Kenyans here are catered for in terms of
proper management of the environment and enhancement of their livelihoods and reduction of
poverty.
Activities to combat desertification in Kenya include the following
• Tree planting and afforestation of hill tops and deforested areas
• Wetlands Conservation activities
• Re-vegetation of degraded landscapes
• Inventory and Mapping of Environmentally Significant Areas
• Soils Conservation activities
• Use of bio-control methods in combating desertification (e.g. prosopis juliflora)
• Development and protection of water sources in drylands
• Proper utilization and management of drylands
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Widespread awareness creation on the importance of the ASALs to the Kenyan economy
and the need to sustainably exploit resources in these areas
NGOs, CBO, and government collaborate in implementing activities towards enhancement
and improvement of the environment in the ASALs
Domestication of UNCCD through the following activities:
• Documentation of Drought and desertification challenges and related action plans in the
Kenya through the annual State of Environment Reports since 2003
• Mainstreaming Issues related to combating desertification and drought in national plans,
programmes and policies (e.g. Environmental Action Plans at District, Provincial/ County
and National Levels)
• Strengthening the Focal Point with resources and training to effectively participate in both
National and international forums to transact matters related to UNCCD (e.g. participated
in CRIC7-Turkey 2008 and COP9 in Buenos Aires and COP10 & CST10 in Korea)
• Development and implementation of the National Action Programme(NAP) since 2002
which is being reviewed to align it to the 10 Year Strategy of the UNCCD
• Sensitization of Stakeholders on the use of PRAIS system of reporting and information
sharing
• Involvement of stakeholders and private partnership in awareness creation all over the
country on matters related to UNCCD and project proposal development for support to
combat desertification
• Government and Partnership budgetary support to relevant lead agencies and NGOs for
sustainable management of ASALs and conservation of Drylands in the country
• Support to communities where the WDCD events are held annually with technical
(training) and financial resources to improve livelihoods and programmes to combat
desertification and creating awareness on DLDD.
THE NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE FOR UNCCD DOMESTICATION
This is the organ composed of lead agencies, civil society and other stakeholders with members
appointed by these institutions to perform duties related to the domestication of the UNCCD in
Kenya. The officers from the following institutions form the NSC:
• Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS),
• Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid lands
• Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Livestock Development
• University of Nairobi
• Kenyatta University
• Ministry of Water and Irrigation
• Ministry of Tourism
• Ministry of Forest and Wildlife
• National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
• Kenya Forest Service (KFS)
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Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA)
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
National Council for Science and Technology (NCST)
NETFUND
Centre for Livelihood Opportunity Unlimited Technology (CLOUT)
National Coordinating Committee to Combat Desertification in Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
AWARENESS ON DLDD THROUGH WDCD
The World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is marked on the 17th of June every year
globally. Since Kenya is signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD we are obliged to mark the day in line with the requirements of the convention. The
event has been marked at different locations since 1995 and NEMA coordinates the activity in
collaboration with stakeholders and development partners.
WDCD Taskforces formed to assist in preparatory process
Task force
TOR
Publicity &
Create awareness, Develop Information Education and Communication
hospitality
materials, press releases, statements, reports & talking notes, liaison
roles, PR roles & protocols, acknowledgements
Logistics & Finance Resources mobilization and procurement, management& disbursement
of funds, review &harmonization of thematic budgetary, prior planning
&facilitation, security, organization &facilitation of the meetings
Transport
Acquisition of required vehicles(air ticket, fuel), coordination of
tasks/activities, safety & emergency preparedness
Liaison with Host
Local level resources mobilization, planning, management and
County Committee coordination, site identification, community mobilization, follow up on
sustainability of the projects/activities initiated, organize & participate in
the celebrations, Liaising with national steering committee, local level
publicity
M &E committee
Proposal and
project
development
committee
Identify & develop M&E tools, Development of reports, plans,
preparations monitoring for impact and tracking, organize for feedbacks
forums(workshops, seminar, meetings), information management
dissemination
Mobilize resources for WDCD and other UNCCD activities
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Venue and Theme for Past/ present WDCD Events
Year Venue
Theme (domesticated)
2012 Tarasaa Primary
“Healthy soils sustain your life: LET’S GO LAND-DEGRADATION
School
NEUTRAL”
2011 Gingo School, Homa
Forests Keep Drylands Working.
Bay
1010 Eor Ekule, Narok
Rich Soils Biodiversity =Well Being in Livelihood and Ecosystem
2009 Taru, Kinango Kwale
Conserving Land and Water -Securing our Common Future
2008 Godoma, Taita Taveta Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture
2007 Kailer, Baringo
Desertification and Climate Change – One Global Challenge
2006 Ngare Mare, Isiolo
The Beauty of Deserts don’t Desert Desertification
2005 Wajir Town
Improving of Kilns to Reduce Excessive Destruction of Trees
2004 Ongata Nando, Narok Reducing Land Degradation and Mitigation of Human Wildlife
Conflicts
2003 Lango-baya, Malindi
Controlling Land Degradation Through Improvement of Resource Use
2002 Meisori, Baringo
Promoting Alternative Livelihood to Combat Desertification
2001 Kimu, Mwingi
Support to Local Community Initiatives Particularly Soils Conservation
2000 Kitobo, Taita taveta
Community Capacity Building for Participatory Resource
Management
1999 Morulem, Turkana
Future of Drylands in the Hands of Communities
1998 Ngurinit, Marsabit
Communities Combating Desertification
1997 Maralal, Samburu
Building Sustainable Partnerships in Combating Desertification
1996 Nairobi
Bridging the Gap
1995 Nairobi
Initial Awareness Creation on UNCCD
WDCD 2012 PREPARATION PROGRESS
Summary of Financial Support and sources for this year’s WDCD event
Institution
Amount (Ksh) %
Purpose
NEMA
4,896,000
37.82
Mainly Fuel, subsistence and air tickets for board
members and publicity mat.
Min of
2,925,000
22.59 Mainly Items on publicity, media, luncheon, awards to
Environment &
sch. and tree seedlings
Mineral
Resources
UNDP
2,700,000
20.85 Mainly Mobilization on the ground, training and seed
money to CBO
NRM-NEMA
1,200,000
9.27
TV Adverts/ campaign
project
Office of Prime
780,000
6.02
Hire of 2 buses and radio campaign
Min
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NETFUND
400,000
3.09
CLOUT (CSO)
TOTAL
45,000
0.35
12,946,000.00 100
Seed Money to (CBO) for environmental conservation &
livelihoods
Publicity material (3 Banners)
Mobilized from various sources (Partners)
The Theme and slogan
The theme for this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification as put out by the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification Secretariat in Bonn Germany is “Healthy soil sustains your
life: LET’S GO LAND-DEGRADATION NEUTRAL”. Fertile soil is a finite and irreplaceable resource,
which feeds 7 billion people today and is expected to feed nine billion in 2050. It is a common
wealth that provides us not only with food, but also secures water and energy for present and
future generals.
Progress in the WDCD Preparation Process
• Seven preparatory meetings of the National Steering Committee have been held and the
8th meeting and last is slated for 14th of June
• 3 venues had been proposed in Tana River (Tarasaa Primary School Tana Delta, Maremba
Primary School Tana Delta and Bangale Primary School (Tana North) and the Steering
Committee selected Tarasaa Secondary School as the venue for this year’s
commemoration
• A team of 7 from NEMA, UNDP and CCD-Kenya visited the county (21st-25th May) to
identify the exact venue (School) and where to carry out preliminary tree planting,
identify 2 community groups (using a pre-set criteria) to benefit from UNDP and NETFUND
seed money funding and mobilize communities in the county.
• The host district, Tana Delta has already been communicated to the office of the Minister
MEMR and concurrence received from the office of the Minister
• Some resources will come from NEMA, MEMR, UNDP, OPM and NETFUND but other
partners may come in to support the event (letters sent out)
• Monitoring and Evaluation of the impact of the last years’ event 2011 in Suba County has
been done and a report is available
• Last year NEMA committed to support rehabilitation of Gwassi Hills and Gembe Hills in
Homa Bay County (venue for 2011 WDCD) with Ksh 1.0M
• Report for last year’s event and other past events have been produced and circulated
• Design for publicity material like Banners, T-shirts, brochure, posters and certificates of
awards have been sent to printers for their production before the 17th of June in readiness
for the attached)
• Statements for The Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources, the Permanent
Secretary Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, The Director General of the
National Environment Management Authority, The Chair of the Board of Management of
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the National Environment Management Authority have been finalized and sent to the
Office of the Minister through the Office of the Chief Communication Officer of NEMA
All the preparation for this years event have been finalized in terms of transport to Tana
River county which is about 700KM from Nairobi through Malindi town
In the past, 2 Community groups have received Ksh 400,000.00 each from UNDP and
NETFUND respectively as seed money to support their environmental conservation efforts
and livelihoods during WDCD. NEMA has also bought water tanks for the host schools.
Communication between the District Environment Officer for Tana River and NEMA head
office have been going and financial support to the District Environment Committee and
preparatory activities totaling to about Ksh 0.5M have been released to the district
Tana River County – Host of WDCD 2012
The major ethnic groups in the Tana River County are the Pokomo, many of whom are farmers,
and the Orma and Wardey, who are predominantly nomadic pastoralists. The county is generally
dry and prone to drought. Rainfall is erratic, with the rainy seasons in March–May and October–
December periods. Conflicts have occurred between farmers and nomadic peoples over access to
water. Flooding is also a regular problem, caused by heavy rainfall in upstream areas of the Tana
River. Cattle diseases like Trypanosomosis have been wrecking havoc in the county in the past.
The infrastructure is also very poor thus hampering movement of goods and services.
The county is 79% food insecure and with an incidence of poverty at 62%. It comprises several
areas of forest, woodland and grassland which are minor centres of endemism. Despite the
apparent adequate natural resources which are under-exploited, the region remains marginalized
from the rest of the country. Efforts at development always seem to centre around the huge
River Tana, despite massive failures in all the previous irrigation projects in the district, i.e. Bura,
Hola and the Tana delta rice irrigation project which failed after the water works were damaged
by the el nino rains in 1998. There is very high potential for irrigation farming and perennial
agriculture if the government in partnership with private developers can invest in this region. The
soils are fertile and can produce enough for the local population and even for export. There is
need to put in place proper farming and livestock keeping systems to reduce conflict over natural
resources.
This county has a very import resource in terms of the Tana River, the ox-bow lakes and its delta
as it enters the Indian Ocean. River deltas are known for being fragile, dynamic and extremely
rich and important wetland systems, flooding in times of good rain and later drying out again.
Therefore, any small amount of playing with the hydrological systems will upset the delicate
natural balance and wreak havoc on the ecosystem, spelling the end of the delta. As a
government Kenya needs to be very careful when approving large scale projects in such areas. Of
course such approval should be informed by scientific studies and research findings to enable
balancing economic benefits and ecological sustainability.
Main environmental issues
• Conflict on use of Natural resources –Farmers and pastoralist from neibouring areas
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Destruction of woody vegetation due to opening of land for cultivation and charcoal
burning
Encroachment of the provisional Forest within Kipini Division
Flood and Drought
Destruction of river line ecosystem by settlement
Overgrazing and soil erosion in the dry season
Invasive and alien species ( e.g Prosopis juliflora) (Mathenge) affects grazing areas and
affects movement of people and livestock
Poor road network to enhance awareness on environmental activities
Low awareness
on environmental management and conservation among the
communities
Groups to get Seed Money from UNDP and NETFUND
During the field visit by the advance team comprising staff from UNDP, NEMA and the Chairman
of the National Steering Committee on UNCCD led by the District Development Officer of Tana
Delta District identified groups to be supported during the WDCD 2012 commemoration. The Two
CBOs were selected using the criteria developed and the groups are namely Mapato Community
Based Organization and Kipini Integrated Community Enterprise (KICE). These will receive seed
money from UNDP and NETFUND for environmental conservation and livelihood enhancement
(upscale their activities) after WDCD.
CONCLUSION
Implementation of the UNCCD and COP decisions is a national policy obligation. Therefore
recommendation is that NEMA Management, the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources
as well as other partners should support the activities towards mitigating against effects of
drought and desertification in Kenya especially through the implementation of the National
Action Programme (NAP) which has been aligned to the UNCCD Ten Year Strategy (2008-2018)
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Tana river flowing with high turbidity due to soil erosion (courtesy of Godfrey N. Mwangi-NEMA)
High livestock numbers a source for land degradation in Tana River County
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