Research project NG| Restoration tools to improve soil moisture and plant recovery of degraded rangelands in Africa
This project is part of a FORMAS funded project (Restore4More) to improve understanding of the plant-soil-water nexus.
We investigate rangeland restoration activities to enhance diversity, adaptation and mitigation of climate change through the pastoralism communities, and improve food and water security in the rangelands of East Africa. We quantify responses of soil-water and plant communities towards different restoration technologies from an interdisciplinary and participatory approach.
Project description
Degradation of rangelands is rapidly increasing, with soil resources being often irreversibly lost. Only a healthy vegetation cover will provide enough resources to increase and maintain biodiversity in soils, plants and animals as well as moisture and water retention. Often, active restoration methods are needed to return to a healthy rangeland system that can provide healthy ecosystem services and functions. We test reseeding activities of different plant species as well as soil manipulations (e.g., half-moon berms) for their impact on soil moisture, fertility, seedbank as well as vegetation productivity. Our activities are taking place in the Karamoja cluster of western Kenya and eastern Uganda.