В Кaramoja запуск проекта по восстановлению пастбищ для защиты кочевников от засухи

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), has intensified efforts to restore degraded rangelands in Karamoja through a community-led approach aimed at protecting pastoral livelihoods. Across Karamoja's expansive grazing plains, climate change impacts have become increasingly visible, with prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns contributing to declining pasture availability and threatening thousands of pastoralist families who depend on livestock. The region's rangelands also serve as critical grazing areas for pastoral communities from neighbouring Kenya and South Sudan, whose livestock movements often extend across national borders in search of pasture and water. Nakapiripirit Resident District Commissioner Bessie Modestar Ajilong said scarcity of water and pasture has contributed to increased movement of pastoralists from neighbouring countries into the district. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn "Pastoralists from neighbouring Turkana and West Pokot are now present in Nakapiripirit in search of pasture and water for their animals," Ajilong said. To address the challenge, FAO and its partners are implementing the Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Livelihood Enhancement (PLACE) Project, which applies a Participatory Rangeland Management approach that places communities at the centre of restoring and managing grazing areas. RECONCILE Executive Director Ken Otieno said the initiative is designed to empower local communities to take ownership of rangeland management. "This initiative takes a bottom-up approach where communities are primarily in charge of the rangelands. They develop rangeland management plans, which are then implemented collectively. Our role is to validate these plans," Otieno said. A key component of the project is controlling invasive plant species that have spread across grazing areas and limited the growth of indigenous pasture. Under the initiative, ILRI is conducting research to identify effective methods of managing invasive species and restoring degraded ecosystems. At community level, regular engagements bring together elders, women, youth, local leaders and pastoralists to review progress and develop strategies for sustainable grazing management. In Tapac Sub-county, meetings organised by the Nakonyen Rangeland Management Committee have become platforms for resolving grazing disputes and promoting responsible use of communal grazing areas. Irene Alinga, secretary of the committee, said continued dialogue has helped strengthen community participation in protecting the rangelands. "From time to time, the committee convenes meetings attended by community members where we discuss challenges affecting the rangelands and agree on practical solutions," she said. The PLACE Project is also being implemented among pastoral communities in Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia, recognising that grazing ecosystems and livestock migration patterns often extend beyond national boundaries. Angol John Mark, a project officer at RECONCILE, said enforcing community-developed rangeland management plans is essential for protecting grazing areas. "Enforcing participatory rangeland management plans is critical to conserving grazing belts and ensuring sustainable use of these resources," he said. Moroto District Natural Resources Officer Lotyang John said prolonged drought conditions have severely affected pasture and water availability in the region. "The drought has greatly affected the rangelands. Grass has become scarce and many water sources have dried up, making life difficult for pastoral communities," Lotyang said. Stakeholders have described the initiative as a timely response to the growing effects of climate change in Karamoja, saying restoration of degraded rangelands is not only an environmental intervention but also a strategy for protecting livelihoods, promoting peace and ensuring the long-term sustainability of pastoralism.