Sh1.7 billion project backs local fight against land degradation

New initiative seeks to boost land restoration and climate resilience in Kenya.[File, Standard]

A Sh1.7 billion initiative has been launched to restore degraded land, create jobs and boost climate resilience.

 Restore Local, led by the World Resources Institute (WRI), aims to support local groups in reviving forests, farmlands and ecosystems.

 With 21.6 million trees planted and 50,000 hectares restored, the programme is expanding community-driven solutions for environmental conservation and economic growth.

 We are focusing on three key landscapes—Kenya’s Greater Rift Valley, the Ghana Cocoa Belt and the Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin spanning Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Rebekah Shirley, WRI’s deputy director for Africa.

 She noted that collaboration between communities, government and enablers is essential for large-scale environmental impact.

 “We have dispersed funds to 46 champions restoring degraded landscapes and farmlands across Kenya. Of course, the restoration champions don’t do it alone; government is involved,” she said.

 Restore Local provides grants and loans to community-based groups, helping them access finance, strengthen technical capacity, secure policy reforms and improve impact monitoring.

 “Community-led organisations are the beating heart of Africa’s land restoration efforts, but they can't do it alone—they need more support to take their impact to the next level,” noted Susan Chomba, WRI’s director in charge of vital landscapes.

 “We are bringing in new partners, unlocking new resources and amplifying their voices so that restoration efforts are not just expanded but also sustained.”

 Since January 2023, Restore Local has backed restoration champions in growing 21.6 million trees, restoring 50,000 hectares of land and creating more than 62,000 jobs. The initiative aims to drive economic growth, strengthen biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Afrex Gold, an avocado company, has integrated agriculture with land restoration. “Since partnering with Restore Local, we have increased seedling production from 6,000 to 500,000 annually,” said Shiro Ndirangu, Afrex Gold’s managing director.

 By mobilising communities, policymakers and investors, Restore Local is scaling grassroots restoration efforts to ensure that Africa’s landscapes are not only revived but also sustained.