DO YOU KNOW YOUR RANGELANDS PLANTS? PARTICIPATORY RANGE LAND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Ms.Carolyne Kyalo of the Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi facilitated  training on Participatory Range Management (PRM) held at Gelian Hotel, Machakos from 23th to 27th May 2022. The trainees were taken through various method vegetation analysis at the Ministry of Agriculture-, State of livestock vet farm – Machakos Branch. The exercise included;

• Participatory identification/analysis of Range Plants and their values
• Invasive species in the rangelands
• Indicator species of vegetation degradation,
• Vegetation, Grasses and forbs species 
• Plant Botany and Taxonomic skills 

The exercise was in fulfilment of and Supported by the project entitle; “Towards ending drought emergencies: Ecosystem based Adaptation in Kenya's arid and semi-arid rangelands” (TWENDE). Trees, shrubs, forbs and grass species compositions is key aspects in determining the appropriate vegetation of rangeland restoration in the Semi-arid arid and Arid regions of Kenya. Among the trainees were Directors and Chief Officers (Livestock and Agriculture) representing 11 ASALs counties selected by the TWENDE project. These were Wajir, Garissa, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Meru, Tana River, Kajiado, Kitui, Narok, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi, Samburu, and Marsabit. Staff from Ministry of Agriculture- State department of Livestock led by Blaise Okinyi was also trained. In her presentation, Ms. Kyalo reminded the participants about 3RS (Re-imagine, Recreate, and Restore) the Rangelands.

By closure of the Workshop, guided by Ms. Kyalo the team resolved for a “Holistic participatory Range Land Management oriented short course” targeting Range management practitioners. This is aimed at addressing the key challenges commonly encountered in Rangelands and thereby creating a critical mass of professionals to support development of rangelands. However, the course MUST be a case study- project based with intensive hands –on.

Group photo (Ms. C.Kyalo (fourth left -sited row)